Quinn Simmons may have stood on the post-stage podium as the Tour de France crested its latest summit finish at the Plateau de Solaison on Sunday, but after a day in the breakaway and a 10th-place finish on the stage, the most combative rider of stage 15 didn't sound all too satisfied with how his race is going.
The American spent half of the 184km mountain stage in the break of the day, only getting caught by the GC favourites 5km from the top of the day's closing HC climb.
He has a second place to his name this July, having helped Lidl-Trek teammate Mads Pedersen to victory in Foix on stage 4. Speaking after the finish atop the Plateau de Solaison, he seemed to somewhat grudgingly accept his team's priorities.
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"I think the team has made it quite obvious they care more that Mads wins the green than I win a stage," Simmons said.
"And you know, at the end of the day, they write my paycheck, so I have to do what I'm told, and I'm fully here to support Mads in that in that goal to win the green jersey.
"He has the Vuelta and Giro points already ticked off, so if he can win all three points jerseys, and I can play a big role in that, that's something pretty special, also."
Simmons is obviously in good form during this, his fourth career Tour de France.
With Pedersen seemingly secure in the green jersey with a 31-point lead over Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech) and no flat sprint stages remaining, he should have his own chances to chase that stage victory in the remaining six stages.
"I always come better and better towards the end of a Grand Tour," Simmons said.
"I think I don't know. It's just my physiology. I really, really struggle in the first week, and then come the second and third week, I can ride into it a bit, so I'm just happy that that form seems to be continuing this year."
Unfortunately for Simmons, standing in his way on the road to Paris are a host of stages that don't suit his abilities perfectly, with a time trial coming up on Tuesday and a trio of summit finishes following later in the week.
In fact, the Tour's final day, the hilly Montmartre-focused stage in Paris, could be his best shot at victory.
Simmons' parents may well be there to celebrate with him if he does, as they were on Sunday.
"Of course, it's super nice to have them here," Simmons said. "They've been coming now all four of my Tours, and I'm trying to be one day on the podium winning the stage with them here.
"So this is at least a step in the right direction."
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