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"
Cycling
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.”
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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."
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Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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