Felix Gall: 'I'm not thinking about how to beat Jonas Vingegaard'

It was not Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) but Felix Gall (Decathlon CMA CGM) who came closest to stage winner Jonas Vingegaard on Blockhaus on Friday. The Austrian climbed at his own pace and arrived just 13 seconds behind the Dane at the summit.

Gall was not on Vingegaard's wheel when the Visma | Lease a Bike rider launched his attack with 5.5 kilometres to go. Pellizzari did follow — but cracked one kilometre later. That allowed the Austrian to move past the Italian with relative ease.

"I was a bit annoyed that I couldn't follow Vingegaard — but then in the end it was the right choice," Gall told Cycling on TNT Sports. "I'm happy that I climbed at my own pace."

"Visma | Lease a Bike set a super-high tempo from the very start of the climb — and with the crosswind, that wasn't exactly easy. But Gregor" — Mühlberger — "gave me fantastic protection," Gall said with genuine praise for his teammate. "That made a real difference. But the whole team was already doing brilliantly before that."

"All in all, we were lucky with the weather. I have ridden Blockhaus before, in my first Giro, and back then I could barely get up it. So I'm very happy to have finished second today," said Gall — who also received warm words from Vingegaard himself, who identified the Austrian as a rider to watch.

Gall takes it in his stride. "Jonas is the best Grand Tour rider there is — along with Tadej Pogacar."

"He's also a far better time trialist, so honestly, I'm not thinking about how I can beat him. I'm just happy with how things are going."