The time gap was still widening!
By the time they reached the 8.4% climb, they were already nearly three and a half minutes behind the breakaway group.
Huang Chong was getting quite anxious, so he quickly radioed Aldag:
"Director, are we going to keep hiding behind Quick Step?
If this keeps up, even with Vlasov up front following Sivakov, if the gap gets too big, I can't guarantee I'll have enough road left to catch him!
Shouldn't we take the initiative into our own hands?"
Hearing this, Aldag thought for a moment before replying:
"No, don't make a move yet. Stay calm.
We're about to hit the 11.1% section of the climb.
Given the state of the Quick Step Team right now, they can't keep leading. Landa should be attacking here.
After this part, there's a brief, gentler plateau in the middle of the Quintana Negro.
You wait for Landa to attack first. Then see if the other teams' leaders respond immediately.
