Tejay van Garderen began this season with a great performance in Middle West with a second place at the overall classification, just behind Rafael Valls (Lampre Merida) and during the last month, he was the first to cross the La Molina finish line in stage 4. The BMC Racing Team leader explained his relation with this race.

“I have an up-and-down relationship with this race,” van Garderen said after taking the stage victory. “I did this race my neo-pro year in 2010 with Highroad and I finished on my hands and knees, it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. And then one year we had a bad snowstorm and I had to quit the race, I was sick. And then I had a really good one last year.” 

The American rider told according to Velonews about his physical sensations. “I’ve known from the beginning of the year I’ve had really good form, I’ve focused really hard the whole season, and all I was missing was a little bit of luck,” he said. “I think I’ve shown the form that I’ve had, the stage at Paris-Nice and then Oman. I’m glad that I could show it here.”

With his victory on La Molina, van Gardener took confidence and he hopes to show a matter during the next races and maybe, at Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco. “We’ve just got to keep moving forward and not lose the focus and just hope that the luck comes our way.”