Gee-West was really gunning for Arensman’s fourth place: ‘INEOS boys were very strong’

Derek Gee-West tried on Saturday to snatch fourth place from Thymen Arensman of Netcompany INEOS on behalf of Lidl-Trek, but eventually had to settle for fifth place in the final classification of the Giro d’Italia. The Canadian spoke afterwards through his team’s channels about how he viewed the race.

Gee-West still had one last chance to move up on Saturday, but failed to do so. “It was very hard. It went incredibly fast from the foot, and once Jonas had done his thing, I knew I had to try to attack Arensman for fourth place.”

“I also tried to go early and worked well together with Jai [Hindley, red.], but the INEOS boys were very strong too and rode back to the front,” was the honest assessment from the Lidl-Trek leader. “It flattened out a bit and from that point it was all about saving for the sprint.”

All in all, he looks back on his Giro positively. “Last year I was fourth, now fifth. But I’m happy to be here now, because I missed the training camp and after that crash on day two I should be grateful I even managed to finish the race at all. So yes, maybe not in the place I had hoped for. I’m pretty happy.”

“I started this year with a new team and until the Giro it hadn’t gone brilliantly, but this gives a lot of motivation. I am proud of my level at the end of the race,” said Gee-West, who says he would like to reach the Giro podium again one day.

On Sunday, Lidl-Trek will still have another chance to win a stage with sprinter Jonathan Milan, something they have not managed so far. “We have come close a few times, but we now have the mountains jersey and a top five. Hopefully we can add a stage win to that on Sunday. The atmosphere has been consistently good and we would still like to end on a high note.”