The first GC victory in his career for @mauro_schmid, who makes it ten Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl overall triumphs at the #BaloiseBelgiumTour. Photo: @BeelWout
Mauro Schmid grateful as "everybody believed in me" towards Belgium GC success
CyclingMonday, 20 June 2022 at 22:00
Mauro Schmid has taken his first stage-race win yesterday at the Baloise Belgium Tour, after leaving behind a disappointing Giro d'Italia, although not without some controversy.
Schmid benefited from a consistent performance throughout the five days, delivering a strong time-trial, aswell as taking a total of 19 bonus seconds throughout the finales and intermediate sprints in the race and some sketchy moves in the final day. On the queen stage he took over the race lead, however on the same times as Tim Wellens. The Swiss had the advantage, however when Wellens took three seconds on the first intermediate sprint of the Golden Kilometer yesterday, it put Schmid under large pressure.
Read also
However in the final two he recovered the three seconds he had lost, and sealed his win. “The team did a great job the whole day, keeping me in a good position. Michael’s experience was important, his presence in the Golden Kilometer helped me take home the overall win. At the first sprint I made a small mistake and I thought that was it, I had lost it, but I remained calm and took back those seconds at the next two sprints," he described.
However that came with the help - either voluntary or involuntary - of Yves Lampaert who on two occasions hampered the chances of Wellens sprinting. It was a dramatic situation, which brought a lot of backlash for the Belgian team. “I didn't see what happened," Schmid commented. "Obviously I did not ask to do such a thing. I also think that both teams gave everything to get the seconds. I think Lotto also did everything he could to prevent us from taking the seconds.”
Although somewhat marked by a negative finale, it was still was special moment for Schmid who has taken another step in his evolution after moving into Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team. “Everybody believed in me, including Fabio, who sacrificed his lead-out for this. There was some pressure on my shoulders today, but I managed it and I’m happy with this success. It’s another important step in my career, one for which I am grateful to the team," he concluded, expressing gratitude over the team's dedication to his goal.
claps 0visitors 41
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- Most of these have nothing to do with rider safety or are completely unachievablevappaxbipmv23-12-2024
- Depends on how fast the Cipressa would be beforehand and in what condition Philipsen would bevappaxbipmv23-12-2024
- Some things sound crazy until they aren't, what if he's actually right? 🤷vappaxbipmv23-12-2024
- Why make a comment to state the obvious? Of course MvdP is much better at CX than Pogacar, does anyone doubt that But that wasn't his pointvappaxbipmv23-12-2024
- If you look at road alone obvi Pogacar is the better rider. But maybe MVDP is the better overall rider since he can win in three plus disciplines?mobk23-12-2024
- Correction on 2021 Olympics. It was mainly the Dutch ladies who didn’t know who was leading the race. Other teams like the Germans and Italians knew that Kiesenhofer was out front.mobk23-12-2024
- A champion turning into a sore loser. Or is he on coke again?
UltimateOpportunist23-12-2024 - If you look at the major races they’ve both been in, van der Poel had the early edge as lately Pogacar has had the advantage. It’s all on procyclingstats.RidesHills23-12-2024
- I wouldn’t assume Tadej can’t win at cross. He did a cross race, not a World Cup, a few years ago and crushed the field. It was a minor race. But he can win anywhere.mij23-12-2024
- I wonder what would happen if Pogacar attacked on the Cipressa instead of the Poggio in San Remo? Would MvdPoel still be able to follow?Ride197423-12-2024