"They went all out for me, I can't thank them enough" - Ethan Hayter delighted to reward INEOS efforts with victory

After claiming victory on the opening stage of the Itzulia Basque Country, INEOS Grenadiers rider Ethan Hayter was quick to praise his teammates and in particular Omar Fraile.

'It is awesome. The team supported me, even though I wasn't great in the last Tour of Catalonia. However, I have taken it a step further. They went all out for me, I can't thank them enough," said a delighted Hayter in a post-race interview following his first win of 2023.

Singling out Omar Fraile for special mention, Hayter was full of praise for the native Basque rider now in his second season with the INEOS Grenadiers. "He is an expert in the Basque Country," said the 24-year-old Brit. "This final was perfect, I only had to do the last hundred metres."

Edging out Mauro Schmid and Jon Aberasturi in the punchy sprint finish, Hayter repaid the faith shown in him after his teammates had pulled on the front of the peloton for the majority of the day. "It's really nice to get my first win of the year after breaking my collarbone in Australia earlier this year. It took me a while to get back on track. I hope this win gives me the confidence to keep going," he concludes.