Mathieu Van der Poel's smile at the Ussel finish line contrasts sharply with Tom Pidcock's disappointment. The British rider from Pinarello Q36.5 crossed the line in third place on the ninth stage of the Tour de France, beaten in the sprint by the Dutch Alpecin-Premier Tech rider and Norwegian Tobias Halland Johannessen. A respectable result nonetheless, but one that inevitably leaves a bitter taste after a day marked by strong legs and a mechanical issue that threatened to derail everything.

At one point during the race, the cameras captured Pidcock striking his bike's derailleur with his heel in an attempt to free it up. A gesture born of necessity, as the British rider desperately tried to restore proper transmission function.

«On the climb the derailleur stopped working and I couldn't shift anymore - he explained after the finish -. I realized I could only shift in one direction. Then, in the sprint, I was completely focused on the final effort, but the button kept not working. On the descent I had to use the brake levers to change gears. I'm not exactly sure what happened: the bike had worked perfectly all day and then, suddenly, something jammed».

The footage had suggested that the heel strike had solved the problem, but Pidcock clarified what actually happened. «Actually, that kick didn't fix anything. The problem was the upper derailleur button, which had jammed. It freed itself on its own, without me doing anything».

Despite the technical setback and the missed victory, the British rider prefers to look on the bright side. «I'm satisfied with my race. The performance was really good».

Pidcock also acknowledges the winner's superiority, viewing a podium finish behind Van der Poel as a good result. «I think Mathieu would have won anyway on a finish like this. It was a beautiful day of racing and a nice way to head into the rest day».

Moreover, his sensations are constantly improving after a complicated start to the Tour. «Over the last few days I've felt better and better. With each stage my legs respond better, even though the heat continues to be very intense. That's why I remain optimistic: there will be other opportunities and I want to be ready».

The Tour now enters its second week. Pidcock missed out on a victory that seemed within his grasp, but his condition is improving and the Ussel podium confirms that the British rider can still be a protagonist on the roads of the Grande Boucle.