'I did what I could': Gall looks to mountains as Roglic gains upper hand in Vuelta TT

Felix Gall (Decathlon CMA CGM) slipped to third overall at the Vuelta a España after losing 1:28 to Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) on stage 18’s individual time trial, but the Austrian insisted he had no regrets after his efforts.

Gall, who started the stage in second overall with a slender four-second lead over Roglič, was expected to lose time to the Slovenian as their head-to-head record read as 10-0 to the latter. 

In the end, Roglič proved to be considerably quicker around the 32.1km course to Jerez de la Frontera, finishing fourth, 19 seconds behind Stefan Küng (Tudor), while Gall finished 1:47 behind the stage winner. 

As a result, Gall conceded 1:28 to Roglič, slipping to third overall. The Austrian now sits 3:01 behind race leader Enric Mas (Movistar) and 1:24 behind Roglič. 

Despite the setback, Gall remains full of fight ahead of the final two mountain stages. 

“I mean, I think I did good and I made no mistakes. I executed it well, I think. I did what I could,” Gall told Eurosport after the finish. 

Gall admitted that he had expected to lose time to Roglič and wasn’t surprised by the size of the deficit. 

“Yeah, I think so,” Gall said when asked if his deficit was what he had expected. “I mean, also in the end, I can only do my best. But I was expecting something around that.”

With two mountain stages to come on Friday and Saturday, Gall remains full of motivation as the race re-enters his preferred terrain.

“Yeah, the next two days. I mean, tomorrow is a really long day. And then Saturday, obviously, the Queen stage pretty much of this Vuelta," he said. 

“I think there’s still a lot possible for sure. We have to see how we feel with the fatigue. I think everyone is really tired now, the bunch, you can feel it."

“But yeah, I’m healthy, I’m feeling good. And yeah, three more days to go, full focus.”