Team Sky making me a better rider, says Wout Poels
New recruit impressive in role of team leader at Tirreno-Adriatico after Chris Froome's withdrawal through illness
Dutchman Wout Poels thanked Team Sky for signing him and helping him to improve after his victory in the Tirreno-Adriatico today, but said he wished that Chris Froome could at his side to enjoy it.
The British rider was forced to withdraw 48 hours before the race because of illness, leaving Poels without his usual leader.
"For me it was a disappointment not to ride my first race with him because I'm aiming for the Tour de France with him – but on the other hand, it was an opportunity to lead the team and it was good that I could win today," Poels said. "Chris will be happy for me because we did a lot of training together this year."
Poels attacked near the top of the final climb to Crispiero and held his advantage to win solo in Castelraimondo. He expected to be working hard this week in Italy, but for Froome and not himself.
The Dutchman signed for Team Sky from Omega Pharma and immediately became close friends with Froome after the first team camp in Majorca this winter. Froome then invited Poels to train with him at altitude in the secluded mountains of South Africa, where they spent two weeks alone with just one Sky carer and monkeys for company.
Poels said that everything about the team, including a successful 2015 start and a familiarity with the English language, is rubbing off.
"When you are in a good mood in the team and you see your team-mates winning, then you also want to win yourself. I was lucky today, but I also tried hard this winter and went to altitude training for the first time in my life. Sky is making me a better rider," continued Poels.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"My English is improving, thanks to Chris. When we were in South Africa, I didn't have any DVDs to watch, so he loaned me the entire Big Bang Theory series. From that American show, without subtitles, I learnt English."
Poels is quickly repaying his team and his leader, who caught heat from the race organiser for his last-minute withdrawal on Monday. He rode Sky to victory today and left behind almost all of cycling's top grand tour stars. Rigoberto Uran (Etixx-Quick Step) placed second, Joaquím Rodríguez (Katusha) third, Nairo Quintana (Movistar) eighth, Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) 11th and Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) 21st.
The Dutch rider now holds the blue overall jersey with 17 seconds on Uran and 32 seconds on last year's winner, Contador. Tomorrow, the group will face the queen stage, which ends with a 16.1-kilometre climb up Monte Terminillo.
"I'm in really good shape, and normally long climbs are not bad for me," added Poels. "I'm really confident to defend the jersey and to keep it."
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
The land of legends: Riding on Tadej Pogačar's home roads
As part of our New Worlds issue in Travel Month, Chris Marshall Bell travelled to Slovenia to find out why it produces so many WorldTour riders per head of population.
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
SBT GRVL lives! The story of just how close the gravel community came to losing one of its biggest events
Here are all the details on what the revamped event will look like in 2025 as government headwinds continue to push against the event
By Logan Jones-Wilkins Published
-
Overachiever: Cameron Wurf competed in the Amstel Gold, La Flèche Wallonne and an Ironman, all in just eight days
Cameron Wurf is both a member of Team Ineos Grenadiers and an accomplished professional long course triathlete who has racked up numerous World Tour and Ironman race finishes across his career.
By Kristin Jenny Published
-
Another year, another annoying choice between Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico
The two premier stage races clashing is a continued bane for all fans of cycling, and points to a bloated sport
By Adam Becket Published
-
‘I feel lucky to be alive’: Magnus Sheffield speaks for the first time about Gino Mäder’s fatal crash
The American describes what he saw at the Tour de Suisse, eight months after the tragedy
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Tom Pidcock: Tour of Britain route 'not really ideal for me'
Brit says he wants to win home stage race, even if the course plays in Wout van Aert's favour
By Tom Davidson Published
-
This 39-year-old INEOS Grenadiers rider moonlights as a pro triathlete
A Jack of all trades, Cameron Wurf is a domestique for INEOS Grenadiers professional cycling team, but doubles as a successful pro triathlete.
By Kristin Jenny Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers' only female rider Pauline Ferrand-Prévot eyes road return
Mountain bike legend could be back in the peloton next year
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Egan Bernal has nose operation to help 'air passage' ahead of 2023
Procedure not thought to be connected to the life-threatening crash which affected Colombian last year
By Adam Becket Published
-