After all, for the fans back home, this would have been a real treat.
But the team had its own considerations, and as a rider, he had to follow their plan.
Ultimately, he had no say in the team's tactical decisions.
The domestiques of the Red Bull Bora Team, after all, took their orders from the team director, not him.
If his domestiques deliberately slowed their pace while controlling the peloton, allowing the breakaway group to build a massive lead, he would be powerless to attack even if he wanted to.
Thus, while cycling fans and commentators worldwide were eagerly anticipating Stage 13 of the Vuelta a España, hoping for a spectacular attack from a general classification contender on the long, steep climb in the final kilometers, the actual outcome was the complete opposite.
Not only did no general classification riders launch an attack during the entire race, but the peloton finished a full 11 minutes behind the breakaway group.
