‘The best time trial of my life’ – Tom Pidcock adds three seconds to Vuelta a España GC gap on podium rival Jai Hindley

Slumped against the barriers in Valladolid’s Paseo de Zorilla boulevard, Tom Pidcock cut an exhausted but plainly delighted figure at the stage finish of the Vuelta a España on Thursday, as the Q36.5 leader celebrated a time trial result that keeps him well in the fight for a top-three place overall.

Pidcock finished 22nd, well out of the top standings in the 12.5-kilometre city centre course. But crucially, he was three seconds and one spot ahead of Jai Hindley (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), his archrival in his fight for third in Madrid behind Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) and João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates-XRG).