Now a triumphant winner, but emotional Turner admits early Vuelta disappointment: "That really hurt"

Alpecin-Deceuninck seemed to have everything in place in the final stage to Voiron, but the Belgian team was unable to finish the job. Jasper Philipsen appeared to be boxed in, and then a flying Turner appeared. The 26-year-old Brit showed his power and won for the second time this month.

“I don't know what to say,” Turner begins his story to Eurosport, fighting back tears. The Brit was flown in at the last minute to replace Lucas Hamilton, who had dropped out. “It's been a crazy week. I really wanted to come to the Vuelta, and the team believed in me. I went to the Renewi Tour, and then they said they needed me.”

“Of course, you said yes,” Turner replied resolutely. “I do everything I can to ride in races like this. It’s a really great feeling.” That's despite having to deal with disappointment on day one, when he finished twelfth. “I was disappointed in the first sprint when my chain came off. I really believed in myself today, partly because I felt good all day. I don't know what to say...”

It would be the third victory of Turner's career and the second of the month. Earlier in August, he won a stage in the Tour of Poland, also at the WorldTour level. “I want to thank the guys. They have all been amazing in this race. The last few weeks have been just incredible. In Poland and here... All the results I have achieved would not have been possible without them. Really amazing.”

And that while Turner was able to beat big sprinters like Philipsen and Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek). “I was among the best and believed in what I needed to do,” he explains. “It all came together perfectly, and it was also the perfect finish for me. I really believed in what I could do at this finish. The last hundred meters felt so far... Simply amazing," concludes the Brit, who is still visibly emotional.