In the general classification, he was already a full 5 hours and 20-something minutes behind the first-place Huang Chong.
But as a domestique, this kind of time gap was meaningless.
In any case, to be able to persevere through a Grand Tour and finish all the stages was, in itself, a remarkable achievement.
After all, Grand Tours start with 176 riders, but now only 135 remained. The attrition rate was staggering.
Not everyone who starts a Grand Tour can endure the grueling three-week struggle.
Of course, the riders at the bottom of the general classification had no chance of competing for the stage win. Their ride was basically just a show for the fans.
It wasn't until Affini, ranked 119th in the general classification, started his ride that people truly began to focus on the course.
