After the crash of AG2R Domenico Pozzovivo, Carlos Betancur will be in charge of leading the French team in their hunt for stages.

“Things are going pretty well. The team is very strong, and we’re hoping to keep things going in this Giro, after the lamentable exit of our captain, Pozzovivo,” Betancur told VeloNews at the start Tuesday. “I saw the crash. It was a pretty easy curve, but we don’t know what happened. Thanks to God, he escaped without serious injuries. That just shows again, despite a year of working to prepare for a race like the Giro, you can lose it all in an instant. That’s also part of cycling.”

“Now my team will be looking to me, and I will to do things as well as possible. We have a good team for the Giro,” Betancur continued. “I am feeling pretty good. I had good preparation for the Giro. I was really struggling to stay with the lead group [Monday], but overall, I am feeling OK. This Giro sees some of the best riders in the world, but let’s see if we can gain some important results.”

DS Laurent Biondi admitted it would be hard for Betancur to challenge for the GC like he did in 2013 when he was fifth, but that stage wins are definitely achievable.

“The story changes for us now. With Pozzovivo gone, Betancur is now our leader for the GC,” said Ag2r La Mondiale sport director Laurent Biondi. “Maybe it’s better to try to win a stage. We will see how he goes. Carlos has arrived here in good shape.”

Betancur says that he hopes to shine in the stages in the final week, which are very hilly. It is worth remembering that during his first ever Grand Tour, the 2011 Giro d’Italia, he was fourth on the stage over the Finestre and finishing on Sestriere, which is stage 20 of this year’s race.

“I hope I can be with the best in this Giro,” Betancur said. “With the sensations that I have, I can be up front in the last week.”