For the second yr working in O Gran Camiño, Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) proved he was the place he wanted to be in his first race of the season with a devastating solo triumph within the hills of Galicia.
The winner of three levels and the general in 2023 at O Gran Camiño, Vingegaard opted to ease again within the opening time trial on Thursday after excessive winds meant the race may go forward however occasions not counting for the general rating.
Friday was a really completely different story although, as Vingegaard first set his staff working laborious within the ultimate hour’s racing, after which with seven kilometres to go on the Alto de San Pedro de Licora climb, the Dane made a strong opening assault.
Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) was in a position to stick with Vingegaard, displaying as soon as once more that he’s heading again in direction of prime type, together with Caja Rural-Seguros RGA’s Jefferson Cepeda. Then one other surging transfer by Vingegaard left Bernal behind on the stage, and really seemingly the race, which determined within the Dane’s favour.
His face drawn with the chilly on the end as he moved from one interview to a different, Vingegaard was nonetheless evidently delighted with successful that confirmed that simply as he did in 2023, Vingegaard has hit the bottom working in 2024.
With temperatures barely reaching 5 levels Celsius on the end and driving rain making riders even colder, Vingegaard spoke to a small group of reporters, together with Cyclingnews.
“It was to start with a really chilly day, with plenty of rain. However we managed to do very properly as a staff and the boys did tremendous properly at the moment, and so I’m completely satisfied I may repay with a win in the long run.”
Taking his first win in his second full day of racing was a dream end in anybody’s e-book, and Vingegaard recognised that, saying, “Yeah it’s true, I’m very completely satisfied. The form is the place i need it to be, and I could be pleased with myself and with how the staff raced.”
Vingegaard paid tribute to Bernal’s enormous effort to comply with him on the stage, which netted the Colombian a notable second place on the end.
“He appeared very sturdy on the climb so it’s good to see him again on such a excessive degree. In fact, I’m additionally completely satisfied that I may drop him in the long run so I’m pleased with the win at the moment.”
The viciously and wet chilly climate, “actually wasn’t that nice, however that’s a part of racing, and it’s equal for everybody,” Vingegaard mirrored, however a query from one journalist whether or not he was having fun with being in Galicia drew a spherical of laughter from the group of reporters.
“Nicely, I do prefer it right here however I’ll say that at the moment not the nicest race I’ve had ever.”
Within the short-term although, regardless of the difficulties, Vingegaard has reaped some essential rewards, not solely taking the stage win however the general lead. With 13 rivals nonetheless at lower than a minute and the ultimate day’s double ascent of the seven-kilometre Monte Aloia nonetheless to come back, the GC battle just isn’t over simply but.
After dominating the opposition on a day which was extensively predicted to finish in a small group dash, to not point out displaying that the chilly climate is something however an impediment for him, O Gran Camiño is now successfully his to lose. And by way of the larger image, too, for his Tour de France rivals, a knock-out triumph on this scale might be troublesome to disregard.
