Marc Hirschi scores first his win of 2024 at Faun Drome Classic: "This victory is good for confidence"

Marc Hirschi proved to be in a very good shape at the start of this season at the Faun Drome Classic. The Swiss champion was able to benefit from a numbers advantage of UAE Team Emirates in the final to ride away for a solo victory ahead of his teammate Juan Ayuso.

"This victory is good for confidence. Yesterday the legs weren't so good, but today they were a lot better. It was a beautiful race. These parcours are perfect for me. I don't often race in France so I was happy to be at the start here," said Hirschi to DirectVelo afterwards.

The 25-year-old rider also benefited greatly from the fact that his teammate Ayuso was with him in the final. "He was the leader. He attacked very strongly. I had to wait and see how the legs reacted to that acceleration. In the end I was able to join the leading group without having to ride because Ayuso was in front."

In the final kilometers, UAE Emirates then played the team game perfectly by allowing Hirschi to attack. "Ayuso kept his legs still and Skjelmose was already very tired, so there were actually only three riders in the chase. I knew it was my chance. I immediately took a few seconds and that was enough," he concuded.