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BMC Racing Team Win Vuelta a Espana Team Classification

BMC Racing Team capped off the Vuelta a Espana by winning the team classification, after three weeks of racing which saw Darwin Atapuma in the red jersey for four days and Jempy Drucker claim his first Grand Tour stage win.

With the good also came the bad, and on stage 19 Samuel Sanchez crashed in the time trial while currently sitting seventh overall to end his race, following on from the abandon of Tejay van Garderen and Philippe Gilbert, who crashed in the first week.

As the race came to an end on the traditional circuit finish in Madrid, the team did an excellent job of positioning Drucker for the sprint. Drucker was in a perfect position in the final 500m, but was eventually boxed in 200m before the line, ending his chances for the win.

As BMC Racing Team’s six finishing riders took to the podium for the team classification presentation with Sports Directors Valerio Piva and Max Sciandri, they reflected on their past three weeks of racing.

How would you sum up the Vuelta a Espana?

Valerio Piva, Sports Director: “It was a Vuelta a Espana with a very nice result but also bad luck. In the end we are very happy that we have this team classification. We have a victory and we we had a lot of nice days of racing. Now we look forward to the end of the season.”

Max Sciandri, Sports Director: “It was fantastic. We came away with four days in the red jersey, best team and Jempy Drucker’s stage win. Obviously we lost Samuel Sanchez who came here as a leader. For sure he could have done maybe even a top five finish, that would have been fantastic, but that’s cycling. But I think at the end we did a good result.”

Darwin Atapuma: “For me this Vuelta a Espana was a dream come true. To have the red jersey for four days was never something I imagined coming into the race. I would have liked to win a stage, and I was close on two stages, but I’m still really happy with my ride. It was a great experience to be on the podium with the team for the team classification.”

Silvan Dillier: “For me the Vuelta a Espana was the first race after the track experience in Rio and it was good. I started ok and could build up my shape and this was the most important for me. As a team we won the team general classification so we could step on the podium here in Madrid and this is an awesome experience.”

Jempy Drucker: “For me it was a good Vuelta a Espana with the stage win and I think as a team we did our best and we won team GC. In the final stage I was in a good position and the team did a very good job. I got a bit boxed in in the final 200m and touched Nielson’s wheel so then I had to brake and my sprint was over, which is a pity because I felt really strong.”

Ben Hermans: There were some positive sides and some negative sides for the team. We came for the GC with Samuel Sanchez but he crashed out in the final week so it was not so good. But we were active in every stage and I think that’s why we also won the team GC and we were pretty close with three times second place.”

Dylan Teuns: “It was my first Grand Tour and it was a totally new experience for me. In the first week I was not so good but I started to get better. I had a small crash but overall I’m really happy with my three weeks of racing and for sure I’m really happy to be on the podium for the team GC.”

Danilo Wyss: “I think it was a good Vuelta a Espana for the team with the stage victory, three second places, team classification and a few days with the leader’s jersey. That’s a good Vuelta a Espana for BMC Racing Team. But there were also some hard times with the crash of Samuel Sanchez, Tejay van Garderen stopping and Philippe Gilbert was also in a crash so it was an up and down Vuelta but I think the overall summary is positive. For myself it’s good with a second place on stage 13 and a lot of help for Jempy in the sprint. I’m happy with my race.”