Tour of the Alps: Victory for Simon Yates

British rider Simon Yates, with the help of his team, BikeExchange, claimed the the overall victory at Tour of the Alps showing impressive form ahead of his main goal of the season next month, the Giro d’Italia. The stage winner today was Felix Großschartner.

Tour of the Alps: Victory for Simon Yates

British rider Simon Yates delivered Team BikeExchange the overall victory at Tour of the Alps today, dominating the mountainous five-day race from start to finish, showing impressive form ahead of his main goal of the season next month, the Giro d’Italia.

The 28-year-old secured the overall title in style, by claiming the Queen stage victory on day two, followed by another top performance on yesterday’s stage, accelerating on the final climb with only one other rider able to follow.

Today’s final, short but hilly 120km day was all about keeping Yates safe. Team BikeExchange controlled the stage once again, originally putting Callum Scotson in the early breakaway, before guiding Yates to the finish line in the main front group just 40 seconds behind the solo stage winner Felix Großschartner.

Simon Yates – 2021 Tour of the Alps Winner “I am really happy it was a fantastic result, the guys did an amazing job, not just today but all week and we really gelled as a team. They controlled at the start then rode all day and in the final they were fantastic again. It was a short day and there wasn’t much action for the general classification, but it was still a hard day with a lot of stress in the peloton and with the fast descent here to the finish, it was always nervous. I feel good, now we just need to look after ourselves, try not to get sick, try not to get injured and try to arrive to the Giro d’Italia in the best possible shape.”

Felix Großschartner (stage winner): “To win is always great, to win close to Austria is even better. After stage two I said to myself just try your best day by day, and that’s what I did. It didn’t work out two times but I stayed positive and the reward came with the win today. We planned again to go into the break and that worked out well. On the last climb I had the best legs and just went for it. To win from such a strong field two weeks ahead of the Giro is special and a great boost in confidence.”

Nicholas Roche (2nd on stage): “I’m really happy about today,” explained Roche at the finish. “It was nice to be in the break with Michael and it was proper racing out there. After the last climb De Marchi and myself believed we could still make it before the bunch to the line. It was nice that we both just committed to that in the finale and didn’t play around. I’m happy with the result and to be able to get a stage podium for the guys.”

Aleksandr Vlasov (3rd overall) “I think I had a very good week at the Tour of the Alps, and these five days were really important for the Giro d’Italia. The race was very difficult, every day we had to give our best to stay in front and to fight for a good result, but from the point of view of the preparation, you can’t think of a better race. The main goal at the Tour of the Alps was to finish my preparation for the Giro, but at the same time I am very happy that I was able to finish the race on the podium in the overall standings.

This result gives me additional motivation and confidence in myself before the main start of the season. The Giro is only two weeks away and I will try to use this time in the best possible way to get ready. A special thanks to all the team, the guys showed themselves superbly at this race, providing me with excellent support, ” said Aleksandr Vlasov.