South African Ryan Gibbons, of Dimension Data, was somewhat disappointed to narrowly miss out on what would have been his first ever WorldTour podium at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race today.
Gibbons, a renowned sprinter, finished fourth in the 164km race, which took place in Geelong, Australia.
Riders in gunning for the line in the sprint finish at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race today. Photo: Getty Images
The 24-year-old finished behind compatriot Daryl Impey (Mitchelton-Scott) who was third, Caleb Ewan (Lotto-Soudal) who was second and winner Elia Viviani (Deceuninc-Quickstep) in the final sprint.
Gibbons’s teammate and fellow South African, Nicholas Dlamini, was involved in controlling proceedings in the breakaway with less than 25km to go, before his other teammates, Tom-Jelte Slagter and Michael Valgren, delivered him for the final sprint.
While grateful for the support his teammates provided, Gibbons felt his result could have been better.
“The team did a great job to support me today, and during this entire Australian campaign in fact, so I’m just sorry I didn’t get more out of this finish for them,” he said.
“Maybe this fourth-place result needs time to sink in and I will enjoy it a bit more later this evening, but I’m in this game to win races.”
He identified periods in the race where he could have executed better.
“There were a few things in the sprint that could’ve gone much smoother for me.
“I guess that’s the good thing. If everything went smoothly and I was only fourth, well then so be it.
“But being around the podium placings and still knowing there is room for improvement, well that motivates me even more to get that big win now.”
