"My job is done here" - Ethan Vernon delivers again in France and shifts focus toward Giro ambitions

Ethan Vernon executed his plan to perfection at the Région Pays de la Loire Tour, confirming his sprinting dominance with back-to-back victories on the opening stages.

The British rider of the NSN Cycling Team powered to another win in a bunch sprint in Les Sables-d’Olonne, ticking off his primary objective for the week before the race even reaches its decisive phases.

Having secured two wins in as many days, Vernon now turns his attention, and that of his team, toward a new goal: the general classification, where teammate Corbin Strong is expected to take the lead role. Speaking after his latest success, Vernon reflected on a race that has unfolded exactly as planned so far.

The finale of the second stage presented a more technical challenge than the day before, with tight sections and urban obstacles complicating the sprint setup. Vernon explained how positioning proved decisive once again.

“I stayed at the front from around seven kilometres to go, because I didn’t expect many moves after that point. Uno-X were very well organised, so I followed them. The plan was to come out of the final corner behind Jake and a couple of others, and we executed that perfectly", he says to Directvelo.

"Uno-X took control and I stayed on their wheel. I was happy with my position through the last corner. The goal was to be third or fourth coming out of it, and from there we did a really good job.”

Just 24 hours earlier, Vernon had admitted he was struggling with his legs despite taking victory. This time, the sensations were markedly different.

“I felt much better today, my legs were definitely improved. It was an easier day overall. I think I just needed some recovery after the tough racing in Catalunya last week, and today already felt a lot better. Hopefully that continues over the next few days.”

With his sprinting duties effectively completed, the British rider now enters a different phase of the race, where his role could vary depending on team strategy.

“My job as a sprinter is done here. I’m not sure yet what the plan is for tomorrow, whether it’s controlling the race, going in the break, or just staying on the same time. We haven’t discussed it yet. The focus was on the first two stages, and we achieved that.”

Looking ahead, Vernon acknowledged that the terrain later in the week may favour Strong more than himself, particularly if the racing becomes aggressive.

“I think the upcoming stages suit Corbin better. Maybe I’ll have the legs to stay with him, but I’m not sure. It really depends on how the race unfolds. If it’s aggressive, that suits him more. The goal is to keep the leader’s jersey within the team, so if it passes from me to Corbin, we’ll be very happy with that as well.”

Beyond this week, Vernon is already setting his sights on the Giro d'Italia, where he hopes to compete against some of the very best sprinters in the world. Despite the level of competition, he remains confident in his chances.

“I believe I can fight for a stage win, but there will be top sprinters like Paul Magnier and Jonathan Milan. The best in the world will be there, so it won’t be easy. But I already have four wins this season, and at the right moment, with the right conditions, I think I can take a stage.”

For Vernon, this race represents more than just immediate success, it is also a key building block toward his goals in the coming weeks. With a solid base of race days already in his legs, he is now fine-tuning his condition ahead of the Italian Grand Tour.

“This is perfect preparation for me. I already have plenty of race days, so now it’s about refining everything, maybe doing a bit of altitude training and final adjustments. I hope my condition will be another step higher for the Giro.”

After a flawless start in western France, Vernon leaves the sprint spotlight behind, but not without making a statement. Two stages, two wins, and a clear signal that he intends to carry this momentum onto one of cycling’s biggest stages.