Carlos Rodriguez credits BMX skills with Tour de France stage win
Ineos Grenadiers rider dedicates his victory to his parents

The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Thank you for signing up to The Pick. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
On the face of it there aren't many things that BMX and Tour de France racing have in common. Sure they both involve bikes - and the design of the bike has remained remarkably stable over the century it has been around - but the clothes fit differently, the tyres are radically different widths and one involves a mid air acrobatics, while the other avoided them at all costs.
But, as Carols Rodríguez found out on the descent of Col de Joux Plane on stage 14 of this year's Tour de France, there are some transferable skills.
“I was just focused on doing the climb as quickly as possible, and when I managed to get back before the descent, I took advantage of my good descending skills. I think the victory came from the descent, and I’m sure my past as a BMX rider helped.”
Rodríguez carved his way down the mountain with poise while the two yellow jersey contender Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogačar mostly looked at each other as they took a more cautious approach.
While the 22 year-old Spaniard displayed nerves of steel his team boss Rod Ellingworth wasn’t so comfortable. “That descent,” said the Ineos Grenadiers deputy principal, puffing out his cheeks as he exhaled. “I couldn’t watch. Well, I was watching but I was turning away at every corner.”
He added: “He’s been getting better each day. To win from a GC group that’s what is quite impressive. We knew that Pogacar and Vingegaard are messing around there but he took the opportunity. He read it well.”
Summing up his own feelings Rodríguez said: “It’s incredible, just to be here. So getting a victory, even more. I still can’t believe it, I’m super grateful to my team, all my teammates for working for and trusting in me. Hopefully I can make the work worth it in the coming days.”
He added that he wasn’t sure if he could keep his podium spot, he is just one second ahead of Australian Jai Hindley in fourth, saying he simply had to get to the finish as quick as possible each day. “I’m not going to obsess myself with getting that third sport,” he said.
With two stage wins and one foot on the podium Ineos Grenadiers took another step towards making their Tour an unqualified success. Ellingworth said the squad's goal at the race start in Bilbao had been two stage wins, top five or a podium and the teams classification (which they are currently leading). While he said there was "a lot of bike racing to go" the understated Ellingworth said the team were "doing alright at the minute".
For Rodríguez all there was left to do, having thanked his team-mates profusely, was to dedicate his win to someone. “It’s my parents, who have supported me forever, they did everything for me, and it would be impossible to be here without that support. They still try to always be there for me. This victory is really for them.”
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
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Having trained as a journalist at Cardiff University I spent eight years working as a business journalist covering everything from social care, to construction to the legal profession and riding my bike at the weekends and evenings. When a friend told me Cycling Weekly was looking for a news editor, I didn't give myself much chance of landing the role, but I did and joined the publication in 2016. Since then I've covered Tours de France, World Championships, hour records, spring classics and races in the Middle East. On top of that, since becoming features editor in 2017 I've also been lucky enough to get myself sent to ride my bike for magazine pieces in Portugal and across the UK. They've all been fun but I have an enduring passion for covering the national track championships. It might not be the most glamorous but it's got a real community feeling to it.
-
-
When is Black Friday 2023 and how to find the best bike deals
We're already seeking out the best money saving cycling deals in the run up to Black Friday
By Anna Marie Abram Published
-
CW Asks: What three things do you wish you'd known when you first started cycling?
What we wish we had known when we first started cycling.
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
Mark Cavendish to postpone retirement and ride on with Astana Qazaqstan, reports
British sprinter reported to have reached agreement with current team to continue racing in 2024
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
In memoriam: Tadej Pogačar's white jersey domination
After 81 days in the young rider's jersey at Grand Tours, the Slovenian has grown up
By Adam Becket Published
-
Wout van Aert wins Tour of Britain by three seconds as Carlos Rodríguez solos to stage eight victory
Jumbo-Visma rider repeats 2021 success to win the race for a second time
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'They race like juniors': How men's pro cycling is getting wilder and races refuse to slow down
Racing from the gun during a three week Grand Tour is a big ask for even the best and the strongest. Is this the new cycling?
By Adam Becket Published
-
Remco Evenepoel hopes to 'steal' Jonas Vingegaard's secrets at Vuelta a España as he looks to 2024 Tour de France
Belgian aiming for second Vuelta a España triumph over the next three weeks, but faces stiff opposition
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'I thought I was more in the door than I was' - Luke Rowe bares all on Vuelta a España snub
Welshman will not race a Grand Tour this year after he missed out on selection by Ineos Grenadiers
By Tom Davidson Published
-
WorldTour teams have an extra three years to halve carbon emissions before losing license - UCI clarifies
A carbon emissions tracker has been introduced and it is mandatory for all stakeholders to use it
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
‘I hope I get a cow’ - Josh Tarling aiming for the top prize at World Championships
Welshman competing in elite men’s individual time trial on Friday afternoon
By Tom Thewlis Published