Giro d'Italia Stage 21: Finish Strong, Reflect

Giro d'Italia Stage 21: Finish Strong, Reflect

Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team wrapped up the Giro d'Italia with a top 10 finish in the 31km individual time trial, as well as a couple top 15 finishes for the stage and a top 15 finish in the overall.

Julien Vermote was 10th (+1'23") in the individual time trial, while Michal Kwiatkowski was 12th (+1'24") and Dario Cataldo was 13th (+1'25"). Cataldo wrapped up the three week grand tour in 12th place overall.

Below are some reactions from Vermote, Kwiatkowski and Cataldo about their performances, and the effort of the team throughout the Giro d'Italia:

"It was a difficult race," Cataldo said. "I am happy about the fact the team tried for the entire race. Day by day we did the maximum. Sometimes I had some little problems, for example stage 16 with the arrival in Cortina, but I am happy about the fact that I tried. The goal of this Giro was to place in the top 10 of the GC. I finished 12th, so I am just near the goal, the position, I was expecting. If I consider all the circumstances I think we did a good race. I want to thank the team for the big effort, trying to to support me every moment of every stage. We raced as a real team, all together."

"I didn't expect to be 10th today in the time trial," Vermote said. "It means that I had enough power today to try to do something good. So for that I am happy. At the beginning of this week I was also a little bit sick. After three stages in the high mountains, it was not easy for me to be there fighting for top 10 in a time trial. So the Giro was a great experience. At the beginning I didn't know what I could expect for a race like that. Now, after three weeks, I can say it was really important for my experience and I am sure also important for my professional growth. I know I have a lot to do — a lot of learning and improvement — but I am happy about my Giro."

"I am happy about my Giro d'Italia," Kwiatkowski said. "At the beginning I was trying a little for the white jersey, but it was maybe a little too hard for me this time. But it was a great experience, and great atmosphere on the team. We were close to victory in a couple of stages, so it means we did a good job as a team. I was expecting a good time trial for myself. Now I will try to recover for a little bit and try and do a good national championship on the road, but especially the time trial. It won't be easy to win but I will do my best to get a good result for me and the team."