Slovenian champion Matej Mohoric shows off his skills with a dominant solo victory in the second stage of the Volta a la Comunitato Valenciana (Canal – Mancomunitato de la Valdinha, 162.7km) Bahrain Victorious achieved their first win of the 2024 season. Mohoric strategically exploited the final technical descent, accelerating with power and using his excellent downhill skills to maintain a decisive advantage over his rivals.
“I knew I was the favorite to win that day, so I wasn’t intimidated,” Mohoric said. “We studied this final during our training camp and agreed that it suited me very well. Today’s stage I went into today’s stage with a focus on winning.”
The day posed a challenge for Bahrain Victorious. The number of riders was reduced to five as Kamil Gradek and Yukiya Shinshiro withdrew due to stomach bugs and allergic reactions after being bitten by insects, respectively.
Despite the setback, other teams helped close the gap to breakthrough. The rest of his teammates played a vital role in supporting Mohoric during the climb and putting him in the perfect position for the decisive descent.
Following the third category pass of Pura de Corrales, Mohorić showed his intention and launched a decisive attack. As several riders tried to react, the Slovenian accelerated again on a fast and technical downhill and finished just 1.7km from the finish line, securing victory.
Mohoric’s victory also earned him the points jersey, while Santiago Buitrago took first place in the Best Young Rider category. With these achievements, Bahrain Victorious currently holds the title of best team after two stages.
Sporting Director Roman Kreuziger commented on the difficult morning due to rider absences and praised the team’s resilience. ” concluded Kreuziger.