08/03/2023

"I'm not a selfish rider so I was a bit surprised about it" -Atitila Valter taken aback following criticism of his Strade Bianche performance

Attila Valter's performance at Strade Bianche certainly showed off some strong racing legs. One moment in particular drew criticism from some however, much to the Hungarian's surprise.

The moment of contention came when Valter rode up to the group containing teammate Tiesj Benoot who looked visibly frustrated at what was transpiring. "I didn't bring that group back, that would be an amateurish move. I waited until the competition got tired and then jumped on my own," Valter says of the matter. "I didn't see Tiesj's gesture either, but in the end it was clear that he didn't fully understand the situation."

For most teams, having multiple riders place in the top 5 of the race the calibre of Strade Bianche. For Jumbo-Visma however it has the whiff of a missed opportunity. "I'm not a selfish rider so I was a bit surprised about it," Valter says.

"For Jumbo-Visma standards this may have been a missed opportunity, most other teams would be happy with a third and fifth place in Strade Bianche," he continues. "I have to make brave decisions on behalf of Jumbo-Visma, but the role in the team was also new to me. I also knew I had to take this opportunity. I thought that was strange (the criticism), because the public could also be proud of the results we achieved. Well, I just have to get used to it."