Tao on the ‘tricky’ comeback trail
Geoghegan Hart scores first win since 2020 Giro
Immediately after crossing the line first on stage four of the Volta a Valenciana to win his first bike race in more than two years, Tao Geoghegan Hart pressed his radio and began an impassioned victory scream.
The reaction said everything about the significance of the win for the Londoner, the Ineos Grenadiers rider’s last visit to the top step of a podium being all the way back in October 2020 when he won the Giro d’italia.
In between has been two barren years, 28 months of frustrations, numerous setbacks, illnesses and injuries. It was little wonder he was so overjoyed at winning atop Alto de la Cueva Santa.
“This is a really tricky sport,” he told the press afterwards. “I’m just bloody happy to win.”
Although the 27-year-old didn’t want to define his triumph as a relief, he was keen to reflect on the previous two seasons to compare his emotions. “It’s an honour and a pleasure to win,” he continued.
“It’s a really hard sport to do well in, to have success in, so I am just really happy to have paid off my team-mates. They did an amazing job on the second stage [when
Geoghegan Hart finished ninth] and it was one of those days where I didn’t get it right – I could have had more confidence in some respects.
“But Rome wasn’t built in a day and after the last few years it’s all about taking momentum.”
He went on: “I’m just happy and grateful that I have had an uninterrupted winter without any problems and consistent training.
“I know that when I have a good block the condition comes, that’s never been an issue. The last couple of years it was just a case of a lot of setbacks whenever I felt like I was getting to the place I wanted to be.”
The victory, his first outside of Italy, is well-timed, for 2023 is a contract year for Geoghegan Hart – not that he is buying into the oft-used narrative of it being more important than other seasons.
“It’s always a big season in cycling,” he deadpanned. “Every season I’ve had in my entire career has been a big season.
“I love this sport and it doesn’t make any difference if it’s a contract year or not.”
The Londoner would go on to finish third on GC as Rui Costa wrapped up the overall win.