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).
