Jackson very grateful to the team, clever Vas enjoying red jersey: "It wasn't the plan, but the finale suited me well"
CyclingMonday, 29 April 2024 at 14:43
She won the second stage of the Vuelta Femenina on Monday afternoon, her joy palpable like that of a child. Alison Jackson, the Canadian champion of EF Education First, emerged victorious in a chaotic sprint. A series of crashes had knocked out several of her competitors. Seizing the moment, Jackson surged from the pack to grab the lead, powering through to maintain her position all the way to the finish line. In a post-race interview, she shared her account of the eventful race day.
The finale was hectic and slippery. "I had a feeling right away that I could win here, even when it started to rain. You have to be mentally strong, go for it, but also be cautious and pay close attention. My teammates were very watchful of me during that part," the winner refers to the chaos in the final two kilometers. "I made the right decisions, which kept me out of the crashes, but just behind them."
Jackson's team brought her back to the front for the sprint: "They are so strong and really went full throttle"
Jackson had to come back, and she really needed her team to help make that happen. "We had to move to the front again and really make up some ground. My teammate is so strong and went full throttle, closed the gap, and it was truly incredible. Then I could go for the win. We've had quite a disappointing spring, with a lot of bad luck in the classics."
"However, you can't control that, and you only have control over what happens next. That was our mindset leading up to the Vuelta. We just really did our best, and I did the same today in the sprint. The team really believed in me. The fact that I managed to win a stage in the Vuelta, a grand tour, is amazing," said the former Paris-Roubaix winner, who, however, will not get to don the leader's jersey. That honor goes to Kata Blanka Vas.
Blanka Vas on "unintended" red jersey: "I actually didn't have good legs"
After the race, Vas shared via the SD Worx-Protime team website that she hadn't initially planned to contend for the red jersey today, given she wasn't feeling her strongest. However, her adept timing and skills allowed her to strategically position herself at the front to capture the bonification seconds. Thanks to these efforts, the young Hungarian now leads the race.
"I didn't have the best legs today, but it was a very technical final that suited me. It wasn't really planned that I would take the bonification seconds, but I was in front for the intermediate sprint so I tried. It's nice to have the red jersey now and it would be nice if we can keep it within the team. The goal is to win this Vuelta Femenina with the team. I'm really happy with the jersey."
Il Lombardia 2024
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Latest Comments
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024
- What load of rubbish. Pog is likely a once in a generation cyclist, the like of which hasn't been seen since 'the Cannibal '. How many people were complaining that Merckx was making racing predictable? I remember this year's World RR as one of the most exciting I've watched. Mainly BECAUSE Pog was the favourite and launched what everyone thought (Pog included) was a suicidal attack with 80km to go. For the next 2 hours, I was on the edge of my seat thinking "this is too much, even for Pog". Maybe Zonnefeld prefers the snooze-fest that is a bunch sprint? Like most people I know, I can't watch two hours of the bunch riding very fast... I wait for the final 5km and watch just the sprint. In any event, most races are won from a sprint or lone break. What difference does it make who makes the lone break? Ultimately, the other contenders will have to figure out a way to beat Pog. Even if that means collaboration between teams. It's going to be an exciting few seasons, until the next Pog arrives on the scene. If this is boring, heaven knows what exciting looks like!Michael513-10-2024
- This is not a gravel race. UCI fail, from the surface they are on to team tactics. In what country was the first "gravel race" in what country is the most popular gravel race? Go with the race model that created the discipline.
Barnes127411-10-2024 - And don't forget he has now won 4 of the big 10 races (Grand tours, Monuments and WC/OG) in one year with a chance to make that 5. (5 has only been done once before)Joostmehrtens05-10-2024