No major decisions after a Grand Tour
Three days after the Giro d’italia had ended, Svein Tuft was back at home in the mountains of Andorra. Although it’s usually hard for the Mitchelton-scott rider to stay indoors, Tuft was taking it easy. “The weather is pretty rough right now, but that’s perfect because I’m pretty hammered,” Tuft said. The team’s defence of leader Simon Yates’ pink jersey, which he held for 13 days, meant a workload that was new for the squad. “In the past, we’ve always had really good Giros, but they’ve always been front heavy, focusing on team time trials and sprint stages. Basically, everyone is on his hands and knees for the second or third week,” he said. In 2014, for example, the Giro started with a team time trial win for the squad. The group made sure Tuft crossed the line first to get into the maglia rosa. But by the end, because of injuries and illness, only Tuft and Michael Hepburn completed the Italian Grand Tour that year.
“But now, it’s a totally different operation,” Tuft said of the 2018 Giro squad. “We have some strong GC riders. Getting through a Giro when you have some work to do here and there is friggin’ hard. But when you’re defending the jersey for 13 days, it’s a whole other deal.” Tuft often had to race hard at the beginning of stages. He and teammates had to chase down breakaways if they comprised riders his squad didn’t want up the road. Then, after an acceptable break had its day out, Tuft and company would have to bring it back in. “You’re thinking, how much longer can I do this? But you have the pink jersey right there on your wheel, so you think, I have to do this. The jersey brings out the best in a lot of people,” he said.
While many reports circulated during the Giro that it would mark Tuft’s final Grand Tour, he wouldn’t confirm any future plans. “I don’t give anything definitive in the week after a Grand Tour. My wits aren’t all about me right now,” he said before a pause. “Life isn’t definitive, so I’ll leave it at that.”