“There’s positively a variety of concentrate on getting higher,” is how Jayco-AIUIa’s Chris Harper describes his 2024 season so far. The longstanding Aussie workforce employee has already taken runner-up spots in each Nationwide Championships, twelfth in Paris-Good and is now working fifth general within the Volta a Catalunya.
After ending sixth and eighth on the 2 hardest excessive mountain levels within the Volta a Catalunya, Harper pounded throughout on the Port Ainé climb to Sepp Kuss (Visma-Lease A Bike) and Mikel Landa (Soudal-QuickStep) – themselves within the technique of monitoring race chief Tadej Pogačar (UAE Staff Emirates) – a transfer that originally raised hopes his for a high three stage end.
It was to not be, however Harper is popping in one in all his strongest week-long race performances so far, and even when he doesn’t know any of the climbs on Saturday’s demanding run by way of the mountains of central Catalunya, the 29-year-old is set to offer it every little thing he is obtained.
“I used to be feeling fairly good all through the stage, and thought it was a great alternative to get throughout to get throughout to Sepp and Landa,” Harper informed Cyclingnews on the stage 5 begin on Friday.
“So it was nonetheless value having a crack, I believe and there are nonetheless some arduous days left on this race. Heaps can nonetheless occur.”
He’s cautious in regards to the concept of calling this a “breakthrough 12 months” however recognises that he has taken an necessary step in the best path this season.
“I do not know when you might name it that, however there’s positively a variety of concentrate on getting higher. Clearly, I’ve obtained Simon Yates within the workforce and he is the most effective riders on this planet so the objective continues to be to go to races with him and assist him. But when that additionally means I can put myself able to do effectively, then that is a objective, too.”
Harper is fulsome in his reward of Yates as each workforce chief and teammate, saying that he is invaluable each steering him on the best way to deal with GC battles normally and races just like the Volta particularly.
“It is at all times good racing with Simon as a result of he is obtained a lot expertise racing right here and in so many races all through the calendar, he’s at all times blissful to offer recommendation and clarify how he’d do issues, which is tremendous useful. And that’ll be useful within the weekend as effectively.”
Harper says he has no concept how Saturday will play out. His confidence has been boosted from how he raced within the Pyrenees up to now, however he is effectively conscious that this will likely be a voyage at the hours of darkness in a number of methods, together with defending a top-five place on GC in a WorldTour race for the time since he positioned fourth general within the UAE Tour in 2021.
“I have not accomplished any of the climbs, so I am getting into a bit blind, however I’ve heard from guys who’ve accomplished them that it’ll be brutal, a very arduous stage,” he displays. “It ought to make for an thrilling race so – fingers crossed and let’s have a look at how I’m going.”
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