"It hurt, but I really wanted to win" - Jan Hirt on career-defining win in Aprica

Jan Hirt has taken a big win earlier in the year by conquering the queen stage and overall classification of the Tour of Oman, however today at the Giro d'Italia he's kept the glorious year Intermarché - Wanty - Gobert Matériaux are having by taking what some called the queen stage of the race.

“I wanted to be in the breakaway, but I had some difficult moments along the way. For example, when the leading group broke up and didn't work well together. So I had to come back to the Mortirolo," Hirt said after his glorious rider in the Italian Alps. The initial battle was intense, however Hirt was one of the two Intermarché riders to make it to the front.

Together with Hugh Carthy they managed to bridge across to the front group up the Mortirolo, and then the Czech's resilience up the climb to Valico di Santa Cristina earned him an incredible stage win. It didn't come without it's difficulties though: “I also had some problems with the bike on the final climb, with the gear changes. My chain jumped every time. And I also had cramps in the descent. It hurt, but I really wanted to win. I fought to the finish," he added.

“I knew I wanted to attack on the steepest part. Lennard Kämna had a big lead over our group, so it looked difficult, but I wanted to try. And it's a good thing I did," as he distanced Kämna and Thymen Arensman in the final kilometers of the ascent, and a solo ride until Aprica where he finished second three years ago.

"I often get the question why I do cycling… It's because one day I want to win a Giro stage and then I can stop. I'm really happy, but won't now," he concluded. Hirt has risen to ninth place in the overall classification. Together with Domenico Pozzovivo, the duo can bring crucial points to secure the team's spot at World Tour level, and the signs are very positive that Hirt will be capable of completing the race on a high.