Alex Kirsch shocks everyone with 2nd place in final sprint in Rome: "I know I'm very fast, otherwise I wouldn't be a lead-out"

Alex Kirsch surprisingly finished second in the final stage of the Giro d'Italia on Sunday. The Trek - Segafredo rider joined the bunch sprint and was the best among the rest behind Mark Cavendish.

Trek - Segafredo came to this Giro d'Italia with Mads Pedersen as sprinter. The Dane won the stage to Napoli, but later got off sick. “When he was gone, we had to shift the focus a bit. We tried to improve our sprint train even though Mads was no longer with us. The last two sprints I tried to take on his role.”

Kirsch was very happy with his second place. “This is a great result for the team and for myself,” said the 30-year-old Luxembourger. “I know I'm very fast, otherwise I wouldn't be a lead-out. But there is still a big difference between doing the last kilometer or waiting for the last two hundred meters. The last sprints were a learning process, now I have shown that I am already learning. I'm happy."