Great effort from @sam_welsford who gets up to take 🥈 in the tight sprint finish after some good positioning work by the guys.💪🏻 #KeepChallenging #SPMen #SP23
"Maybe I was the fastest, but you don't know" - Sam Welsford rues positioning as he rides into second at Scheldeprijs
CyclingThursday, 06 April 2023 at 12:05
Sam Welsford has broken through this year as he repeatedly beat top competition as the Vuelta a San Juan, and he keeps showing impressive top speed. He was perhaps the fastest at yesterday's sprint at Scheldeprijs, but had to settle with second place after he didn't start in the best spot.
“It was a very hectic final, as you could see. I was lucky to find Jasper's wheel on the left, but it was also difficult so close to the barriers. I had to choose my moment to go past it and had little space. That is why I am happy with my second place," Welsford told Wielerflits.
Philipsen also struggled at the time, but managed to ride through the left of Edward Theuns who launched his sprint first. Welsford didn't have the same luck, not having space to go through but taking second place, as on the other side of the road Mark Cavendish sprinted to a third place in what was the closest he's come to a win since joining Astana.
“Maybe I was the fastest, but you don't know. It is also not about the fastest sprinter, but about the smartest," Welsford acknowledges. "And also about your lead-out and positioning. It was a very easy day in the peloton, but also a tough final. As a team we rode very well, although we could have done better in the final, but we can be happy with this result today."
The 27-year old, former track specialist, is only riding his second season at a high level and outside of Australia. He's shown the speed and is dialing in the positioning. He's yet to make his Grand Tour debut, and as DSM's top performer this season he should be an option. "Maybe yes. Riding the Tour de France, that's the dream," he tells, having proven to be strong enough to take a win in France.
"But it has to match what is good for my development. The Tour is an incredibly tough and hectic race. If I were going to ride the Tour, I want to prepare well. Then I would like to do a training camp, that way I can be in good shape," he concluded.
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