Sjoerd Bax appreciates his teammates' work at his Trofeo Mateotti victory: "It was really a team victory"

Sjoerd Bax won for the first time in the colors of UAE Emirates on Sunday. In Italy, the 27-year-old Dutchman won the Trofeo Matteotti just ahead of Italians Simone Velasco and Lorenzo Rota.

"It was really a team victory," says Bax on his team's website. "First, Formolo was on the offensive, then Bennett and Hirschi, until my attack turned out to be the right one. My final shot turned out to be strong enough and I am very happy that I could finish it."

"I hope that I can maintain this form and take it with me to the next competitions in Italy," said Bax, who will first race at the European Championships this week. He will ride the time trial, the mixed relay and the road race in Drenthe.

The victory in the Trofeo Matteotti was Bax's third professional victory. Last year - then still in the colors of Alpecin-Deceuninck - he was the best in the Coppa Agostoni and a stage of the Tour de Langkawi.