"I'm getting the hang of the Tour"

Gorka Izagirre has done his family name proud with a battling performance in this year's Tour de France. Ion's elder brother has featured in the day's main break on a number of occasions, and thus far has a third and a fifth place to show for his efforts. Speaking yesterday, the 24-year-old said he's never felt better.

"I'm feeling better than I've ever done in my career", he told Bilbao-based daily El Correo. "Getting into breaks in this race is always hard. I don't know how, but I've gotten the hang of this race. To infiltrate the right break you have to have the legs, the strength. To win, you have to be a fox."

The win has eluded Gorka in this race and for the better part of two years overall, but DS at the Tour, Gorka Gerrikagoitia, had praise for both Gorka and his younger brother.

"Gorka and Ion are both noble riders. They're disciplined. And Ion is an extremely talented rider. He's recovering well from the demands of a three-week race."

With his all-round ability, you sense it's only a question of time before Gorka opens his Grand Tour stage account.

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