17 July 2021

Maxime Bouet: "I could do better"

Eighth of the hardest stage of this Settimana Ciclista Italiana, Maxime Bouet is now 13th overall.

On the line

“There is a lot of level on this Settimana Ciclista Italiana and the 4th stage was very hard fought, the wind was still present all day long. The passes are difficult, and today we climbed the steepest one in this competition. Israel Start Up Nation started at the foot of it, and a group of twenty riders to which I belonged caught up with a breakaway group, in which Miguel was. Israel continued to ride to the finish. I am disappointed with my sprint, I had done everything perfectly until the red light. Unfortunately, I got caught in the last corner and was in the very last group, which forced me to work from a distance. Nevertheless, I managed to catch up with some of the other riders to finish in 8th position. I couldn’t win, nor could I imagine a podium, but I could have hoped for more. In any case I am satisfied with my condition, I am at the front every day in this competition, it’s all about the mountains and I am there. Tonight, I am close to the Top 10 of the overall classification and I will try again tomorrow, even if the stage could be won by the sprinters, but you never know”.

Arnaud Gérard, Sport-director

The debrief

“Very good stage from Maxime, Miguel was in a breakaway group of five. When the group of Maxime joins, there are 23 riders in the lead, and Miguel, who is recovering from his accident at the beginning of the season, breaks away on the last climb of the day. Maxime is now 13th in the overall classification, we are in our place in this competition which is of a very good level”.