Fifth not enough for Attila Valter at Strade Bianche - "Of course we have to do better for Jumbo-Visma standards"

Attila Valter had shown his talent at Strade Bianche last year but in 2023 he's put on a great display of power once again. Jumbo-Visma were at the head of a tactical blunder however, as he admits in a post-race interview.

“Tiesj is a good leader, give us a few more games and it will go much better. In the end it is only my first race with him," the Hungarian champion mentions. In what is his first one-day race of the season, he brought in the form he shown during Gran Camino. He was a part of the main moves today during the day as the leftovers of the peloton looked to chase Tom Pidcock.

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Valter even tried to go alone in pursuit of the Briton in the final white road climbs of the day showing great legs, but it was in the paved sections that the catch had to be made. There the duo had the most responsibility, but they could not make the catch. “That was my mistake,” Valter told Het Nieuwsblad. 

“I should have communicated better with Tiesj. If I compare myself with, for example, Nathan Van Hooydonck, I can still improve. He has known Tiesj for some time and understands him better" he added, comparing to the team's performance at Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne.

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“Of course we have to do better for Jumbo-Visma standards, but I can be satisfied with my performance today. I finish fifth in my second Strade Bianche," he concluded.

Valter nevertheless rode to a fifth place on the road whilst Benoot finish third at the Piaza Del Campo. He will continue to follow an Italian calendar which will now see him race Tirreno-Adriatico.

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