"To be able to win a stage in a WorldTour race in my first year is really nice" - Axel Laurance takes biggest career victory at the Volta a Catalunya

On an immensely successful day for Alpecin-Deceuninck, just moments after Mathieu van der Poel took victory at the E3 Saxo Classic, Axel Laurance sprinted to the stage 5 win at the 2024 Volta a Catalunya.

“It’s really amazing," reflected the 22-year-old Frenchman after powering to the win ahead of Marijn van den Bergh and Bryan Coquard in his post-stage interview. "It’s my first year in the WorldTour team, so to be able to win a stage in a WorldTour race in my first year is really nice for sure.”

“I was in a really good shape when I came here, and obviously I’m still in good shape," Laurance continued delightedly. "I was focusing on the first stage and this stage in particular, yesterday it was not the plan to sprint for me, but unfortunately I had to do it, by myself.”