In a race like O Gran Camiño, Jonas Vingegaard is impressive from another level

“I just want to race and win”, was the simple conclusion of Jonas Vingegaard on top of Monte Trega The Tour de France winner had just credited his first victory of 2023 and received the yellow jersey.

The fact that it is in a relatively small race like O Gran Camiño does not do much for Jumbo-Visma “Everyone knew it was coming and then you have to be able to do it,” says Frans Maassen.

Johannes Staune-Mittet was in disbelief at Vingegaard's breakaway two kilometers from the top In no time he had a lead of fifteen seconds and he extended it to 21 seconds on Ruben Guerreiro .

Number three Ion Izagirre also saw it happen “Impressionante”, said the Cofidis climber.

“When he accelerated I immediately knew I couldn't follow him I tried my best, but I was fighting with Guerreiro for second place.

” “We have seen that Vingegaard is on a different level The difference is really big.

Their team is in the lead all day, they are very strong and have a good leader Tomorrow is even more difficult… So it will be difficult to beat Vingegaard”, said Izagirre, who is resigned to the duel for second place.

'If you see his acceleration with your own eyes…' At Jumbo-Visma it was mainly smiling faces after the line Steven Kruijswijk was already deployed on the penultimate climb.

“That was a conscious choice”, says sports director Frans Maassen afterwards “Stevie had to wear the rest out and then with Rohan Dennis let the other guys position themselves.

Staune-Mittet would then go down and then we would see if Attila had to take over Valter, but that was not necessary ”  The Hungarian champion was indeed in Vingegaard's wheel when the decisive attack was placed.

“We were leading the entire stage and Johannes drove a very high pace on the final climb I was also a bit surprised that when Vingegaard attacked everyone was already on the limit.

I tried to paralyze the chase, but that wasn't up to me Jonas was very strong and I had good legs”, said Valter, who crossed the line in tenth.

Development rider Staune-Mittet therefore surprised with a strong head turn on the final climb of Monte Trega It was a kind of lead-out for Vingegaard.

“That was the goal today I hoped to take Jonas as far as possible.

And then when you see his acceleration with your own eyes, it's incredible He immediately had a hole and it kept growing.

That was very impressive and beautiful after such a strong team performance,” said the 21-year-old Norwegian “This was planned.

I had a good winter and hope to have taken a step this year ” 'It's not against Pogačar, but you should be able to do it' The fact that Vingegaard wins here with force majeure in a UCI 2.

1 race as O Gran Camiño, he is obliged to his position, according to Maassen “But you never win a race easily, it doesn't matter where.

The finish was super steep, and there are very good riders who can compete with the best in the Basque Country He drove it straight off the wheel.

It's not against Pogacar or I know who, but there are really good riders here It was telephoned, everyone knew it was coming and then you have to be able to do it.

” Vingegaard himself had not expected that the difference with the rest would be so great “I was a bit surprised that no one came with me when I attacked,” said the leader of Jumbo-Visma, who will start the queen stage on Saturday with a lead of 28 seconds over Guerreiro.

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