Juan Sebastian Molano sprinted to victory in the second stage of the Cro Race on Wednesday, beating Italy’s Giovanni Lonardi and Australia’s Sam Welsford. While this marked UAE Team Emirates' 76th win of the season, it was Molano’s first win of the year.
That’s a surprising stat. Molano may not be considered one of the elite sprinters, but he’s had some impressive victories in the past, including two stages in the Vuelta a España and a win in the UAE Tour— a result sure to please his team’s sponsor.
However, until Wednesday, success had eluded Molano this season. Even with help from his all-rounder teammate and cycling superstar Tadej Pogacar, he couldn’t clinch a win in this year’s Giro d’Italia. Pogacar, showing great teamwork, acted as Molano’s lead-out in one stage, after Molano had done plenty of hard work for him earlier in the race.
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Molano hungry for more wins
Now that he’s finally broken his winless streak, Molano is thrilled. "I’m really happy to get this win—my first of the season," he said on the team’s website. "I’ve been chasing a victory for a while, but it just wasn’t happening. Now I want to step it up and push for more wins before the end of the year," Molano added, eager for further success.
The next two stages may be a bit too challenging for him. Thursday’s route includes significant climbs, with a tough 500-meter, 11-percent gradient in the finale, tackled multiple times. Friday’s finish is also uphill. But Molano will get two strong chances for a sprint finish over the weekend, giving him another shot at victory.
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