Rough diamond Hagenes (20) polishes himself, impressing team management Jumbo-Visma

A new day brought a fresh victory for Jumbo-Visma in the hotly contested Sparkassen Münsterland Giro. The Dutch team secured the win after being part of the leading group of ten riders, with three of their own. Per Strand Hagenes clinched his third victory of the season, following the Tour of Drenthe and a stage in the Four Days of Dunkirk. IDLProCycling.com spoke with him and team leader Grischa Niermann after the race.

We can best describe the barely 20-year-old Norwegian as a composed and confident individual. As a member of the Jumbo-Visma U23 team, he has already had a taste of the big leagues multiple times this year. However, his professional victory count has now reached three. In Germany on Tuesday, he found himself in the company of some formidable riders within the leading group, including European champion and teammate Christophe Laporte, former world champion Mads Pedersen, and Vuelta green jersey winner Kaden Groves.

"It was motivating to ride with them. If Christophe hadn't encouraged me to attack, I might not have even considered it. So, that definitely helped," the eventual winner shared with us afterward. "It was a tough day, and I often found myself at my limit. The group's pace was relentless, and I felt somewhat helpless. But Christophe told me to give it a try after he had made his move. So I did, and I pushed as hard as I could to the finish line. It turned out to be enough."

For team leader Niermann, this victory was a home win, achieved through an excellent performance by his riders. "It was a well-executed race, and we emerged victorious. Our plan was to go for a sprint, but we were aware that the start was going to be exceptionally demanding. That's why we needed to be proactive, creating favorable situations for ourselves, particularly with Laporte. The guys executed the plan very effectively, so it's particularly satisfying that Per secured the win."

Niermann admitted that some doubts crept in along the way, especially when they knew that last year's winner, Olav Kooij, was in the chasing group. However, with Jasper Philipsen also in the chasing group, it was clear that they couldn't count on winning a bunch sprint, despite having two riders with strong attacks at the front, namely Edo and Per. This is why the decision was made not to push for a sprint finish.

Niermann recognizes 'wily old fox' in rough diamond Hagenes

When asked, Niermann provided further insights into Jumbo-Visma's emerging talent, Per. "Per is incredibly strong. His specialty lies in all-day races and then breaking away solo. He may not often win races through bunch sprints, but this victory showcased his astute racing intellect. It appears he possesses the wisdom of a seasoned veteran; he picked the precise moment perfectly."

With this compliment, our attention turned to the protagonist himself. Per remarked, "I always strive to maintain composure during the final stages of a race, but I also keenly observe many races. I often try to pinpoint the right moment, and it has frequently proven to be the correct one. So, over time, I've gained confidence. That certainly plays a role."