Thomas Gloag emotional after Vuelta podium following shattered kneecap and two broken elbows

It was all about Pinarello-Q36.5 in stage 19 of the Vuelta a España. The Swiss team saw Eddie Dunbar claim victory, while Thomas Gloag and Marcel Camprubí gave the squad two more riders inside the top five after an excellent day in the breakaway. For Gloag, who joined the team from Visma | Lease a Bike over the winter, it was an especially meaningful day.

Gloag responded to several attacks from Santiago Buitrago during the stage but eventually came up short on the final climb. Even so, the Brit finished third while teammate Dunbar took the victory. Afterwards, Gloag was also handed a microphone to reflect on what the result meant to him.

“Really emotional. Before I talk about the amazing victory from Eddie and the team, I feel incredibly privileged and honoured to be standing here in good health,” Gloag said. The Brit endured two major injuries during his time with Visma | Lease a Bike: in August 2023, he shattered his kneecap, before breaking both elbows shortly after making his comeback in 2024.

Gloag moved to Pinarello-Q36.5 over the winter. He had already shown encouraging signs by finishing fifth on the queen stage of the Volta ao Algarve, but his third place at the Vuelta was the clearest indication yet that he is back competing at the highest level. Gloag was also part of Primož Roglič’s Giro d’Italia-winning Visma squad in 2023.

Finishing third in a Vuelta stage now feels almost like a victory in itself. “I’m just incredibly lucky to be surrounded by some fantastic people. It’s a bizarre experience. I’m the one who crosses the finish line, but this really comes down to the support of my family, the facilities I’ve been able to work with from a young age and the amazing community around me.”

“It’s all about having an amazing partner and the constant help of so many people along the way. I’m hugely grateful to everyone. I absolutely didn’t expect to be fighting for the win today, so I just want to say a massive thank you to everyone who has been part of this,” the Brit said, before turning his attention back to the racing in his Eurosport interview.

“As for the race, I was riding for Eddie today. When Buitrago attacked, I jumped across to close the gap. I just didn’t have the confidence that I’d still have the top-end speed at the finish to close it out. Eddie apparently didn’t have complete confidence either, so we shared the work. In the end he went incredibly hard and we got the win. Amazing.”