Quinn Simmons, making his Tour de France debut, succeeded in breaking away for the fifth time on stage 19 in Cahors. However, he was thwarted again this time, but was able to console himself with a podium finish and a combativeness prize on Friday.

The 21-year-old American is the youngest rider in the 2022 Tour de France and has recorded nearly 600 km of breakaways during the Tour, with stages to Longwy, Megève, Saint-Etienne, Mende and Cahors.

After stage 19, Simons said it was an "up-and-down" Tour, and although he did not achieve the victory he had hoped for, it was part of a successful race for the Trek-Segafredo team, including contributing to Mads Pedersen's breakaway win in Saint-Etienne He said.

"It was a real highlight, especially when Mads took the stage win. "It was a real highlight, especially when Mads won the stage," Simmons said. Especially when Mads won a stage, it was a real highlight. Especially Roubaix day was the worst day for me.

." I think I proved to the team that they made a good choice bringing me along.

Simons' run on stage 19 saw him join Nils Pollitt, Matej Mohoric, Taco van der Hoorn, and Mikel Honoré as the last man alive from the first breakaway, which was going at a high pace. He was joined by Nils Pollitt, Matej Mohoric, Taco van der Hoorn, and Mikel Honoré.

Simons persisted until the top of the day's final climb (the last sectional climb of the Tour), but was pulled back with 35 km to go. He later said it was a good sign that he was feeling as good as he had in the final week of his first Tour.

"The legs are still good. Of course, the last three weeks I felt a little short on top stage finishes, but it gives me confidence for next year and for the years to come."

"It was windy, so I knew there was a chance that things could get crazy at the start and we could end up in a big group. It was clear from the beginning that it wasn't going to happen. If you're at the front of the Tour, you have to have a little fun."

This season, Simons has shown that in addition to his strengths on the flat and in the mountains, he can also be a force on the climbs, including the Tirreno-Adriatico and the KOM jersey at the Tour de Suisse.

As for being a rider who can handle any terrain, Simmons said, "I don't know how far I can go yet."

"I can't say I've surprised myself here, knowing what I'm already capable of and with the Vuelta already in my legs. But when you're young, every time you finish a Grand Tour you take a big step forward. But when you're young, every time you finish a Grand Tour you take a big step forward. I think it's only next year that all the hard days and hard work here will pay off."

"I still don't know what I can and can't do. Sometimes on climbing days I push a little bit to see how far I can go. I'm trying to do a good job in the leadout, and I don't know where the limits are, so I'm doing a little bit of everything."

"It's hard to be proud of being the youngest rider, because I know I'm not the only one. But it's good for me, to see where I'm at in two or three years."