Virus spreads through peloton and also takes down Pedersen, who is especially happy to still be in the race: "I survived"

Pedersen climbed excellently in the middle and high mountains of Spain last week. But where he had previously shown his best side, things did not go well at all on Wednesday: he had to be pulled in by his teammates, 3 minutes behind the last riders. “It wasn't my best day on the bike; it was probably one of the worst days in a long time,” Pedersen said after the finish.

He had nothing left in his legs, so the former world champion has no expectations for the time trial in Valladolid. “Those days come now and then. The tank was empty; it is what it is. Fortunately, tomorrow is a relatively quiet day in the time trial.” Thanks to his team, Pedersen can still fight for his green jersey. “I survived. My teammates were fantastic; they waited for me and made sure I reached my destination. Sometimes that's just how it is.”

The powerhouse has been in the early breakaway so often in this Vuelta, but he is glad he didn't choose to do so this time. “They would have dropped me anyway. The feeling was not normal. I wasn't at my best on the rest day, and I wasn't at my best yesterday either, and that doesn't disappear in 48 hours.” A stage win on Friday, where a perfect course awaits him, seems so far away.

The previously combative Pedersen may have to limit himself to finishing in Madrid: he is feeling ill. “Maybe I have something, just like almost the entire peloton.” Victor Campenaerts did not start after the rest day due to illness. Gianmarco Garofoli (Soudal Quick-Step) also called it quits. Other riders are ill in the race, such as Sergio Chumil (Burgos Burpellet BH).