"I feel like I won today": Mikkel Bjerg proud of perfect team effort for Narváez's stage win

UAE Team Emirates - XRG delivered a tactical masterclass on stage 8 of the Giro d'Italia. Danish powerhouse Mikkel Bjerg sacrificed his own chances in the day's breakaway, doing the heavy lifting to set up his teammate Jhonatan Narváez for a spectacular second stage victory of the race. It is already UAE's third stage win in just 8 days of racing.

The defining move of the stage featured three riders: Jhonatan Narváez, his teammate Mikkel Bjerg, and Uno-X Mobility's Andreas Leknessund. Having two riders in a three-man move gave UAE Team Emirates - XRG a massive tactical advantage, and Bjerg executed his role as a domestique flawlessly.

The Danish time-trial specialist took on the bulk of the pacemaking duties at the front of the race. He controlled the gap over the intermediate climbs and powered through the valleys to ensure the peloton could not catch them, putting Narváez in the perfect position to launch his winning move in the finale.

Despite emptying his tank for a teammate and not contesting the finish himself, Bjerg was thrilled with how the day played out. He spoke to the media after the stage to celebrate the team's tactical success.

"It was really a good day, I am super happy for Johnny and for me too. It was the perfect stage," Bjerg stated. "I had the opportunity to make the difference for the team. When John has legs like that, it's simple."

Bjerg detailed the big effort it took to keep the breakaway clear, noting that Narváez even had to nurse him over one of the tougher ascents before the Dane went back to work on the flatter sections.

"He just had to wait for me a bit on one of the climbs, but then I spent about 14 kilometers riding full gas to ensure that we had a sufficient lead to win in the finale," he explained.

For a rider dedicated to the team's success, seeing the plan come together brought just as much satisfaction as taking the victory himself. "Honestly, for me, I feel like I won today," Bjerg concluded with a smile. "I am really proud of myself and I just tried to enjoy this day to the fullest."