Finlay Pickering: British cyclist targets stage wins after Vuelta a Espana debut

Pickering showcased his quality as a climber by winning the mountains classification at this year’s Tour of the Alps.

He said he thought it was amusing that his dash to the start line had been picked up by a number of media outlets but hoped his performances would be the main talking point from now on.

After finishing 29th in the general classification, Pickering said he potentially benefitted from being thrown straight into the race.

“I didn’t go to the altitude camp before and arriving 12 hours before the race isn’t ideal – but on the other hand it’s a long, long tour and these guys had done an altitude camp and another seven days in the same hotel,” he said.

“I think for one of my team-mates, it was 40 days away from home in one block and it’s not like you’re on holiday.

“In some ways that can be quite taxing mentally but if you gave me the option of doing the camp or arriving 12 hours before I’d probably choose the camp. But it shows me you maybe don’t need perfect preparation for races.

“If you’re in good shape, are consistent, have the desire to do well and you apply yourself, you don’t miss a lot.”