Jasper Stuyven: "I hesitated a second too long"

October 11 ^th 2026 - 18:05

Jasper Stuyven (Soudal Quick-Step), runner-up of Paris-Tours 2026 after finishing third in 2021:

"I think it was a very, very fast day. I'm happy with the race I did. We had the gap, and maybe I hesitated one second too long when we were in a group of four. Then Per Strand just went behind Toms [Skujiņš], and maybe I hesitated a second too long. He got to Toms and just continued. I think it was 20 metres, and it was still 20 metres at the finish line. I can't say much."

"He [Hagenes] also had a very strong last kilometre, and I tried to get onto his back wheel, but I couldn't. My legs were also quite empty. It was a hard finale, and it's unfortunate because, of course, it's close again. I would have loved to finish my season with a nice cherry on the cake, but it's second place."