I was super impressed with the way he stayed within himself and climbed at his level( which is super awesome) and rode a great Vuelta..I think Mads and others are tossing old overused labels..kind of all the sudden larger riders w drag race power and not get destroyed or dropped on moderate days of climbingFirst or second in a third of the stages at the Vuelta, as a non-climber. That's rare - six has happened every few years, but seven? Don't think that's happened since the Vuelta moved to late summer.
. I respect what a high quality,intelligent rider knows about his peers..riders who don't go to worlds because they don't feel it are showing respect for their country and federation by not wasting the money and riding for a miracle result..at worlds no award for participating