“Honestly, getting the Yellow Jersey is a surprise. Before the Tour, it looked very far away. In the Tour de Suisse I had a crash and then was out of action for a couple of days due to illness. However, yesterday's stage was a big change in mentality and an injection of confidence. This morning, at the meeting on the bus, we set it as a goal. We knew it would be a nervous and dangerous sprint, but we wanted to do everything we could to get this yellow jersey. My teammates worked phenomenally in the last 25 km; especially Marijn Van der Berg, who sprinted next to me. It was a great job by the entire team. Wearing this Yellow Jersey means a lot for me, for my country and for my team. There are very few Ecuadorian cyclists at the elite level, and every achievement we get helps us develop this sport in our country. On a personal note, this Yellow Jersey is very exciting. In recent years I have spent a lot of time away from home and my family to take another step in my sporting career. It is for them, for my family, that all this effort is worth it. This Yellow Jersey is a reward for all our sacrifice and it’s dedicated to them.”
