Michael Valgren continued Tinkoff’s strong start to the Tour of Denmark this week taking a superb victory on stage 3 with a huge attack on the final short, sharp climb to the line. Looking comfortable on each of the four tough finishing circuits, Valgren left the select front group behind as he powered his way to the overall race lead, held by teammate Daniele Bennati going into the stage.
After the stage Valgren said: “I’m really happy – it’s my first win in a few years, and it’s the hardest stage to win in the Tour of Denmark. The city where we finished today, I lived there for two years so I know the town really well, so it’s really nice to win there in front of the public. It was quite hard with little time between the Tour, but I love to ride in Denmark and to show the people here who come to see me that I am capable of getting the results – it’s nice to pay them back.”
“We’re super happy with today, with Valgren winning the stage and taking the overall,” explained Sport Director Lars Michaelsen after the finish. “Normally we have a good position to go from here into tomorrow’s time trial.”
Going into the stage, Tinkoff had both the responsibility of defending the overall race lead, but also the goal of bringing Valgren in a good position towards the finishing laps to contest the win. After a hard fight in the opening 15km, the right selection formed and five riders set about building a maximum lead of up to seven minutes.
The racing was steady until the final 40km where attacks came from the peloton with the gap dropping under two mintues, and going into the four finishing circuits, a new selection of five was leading the race, with Tinkoff controlling affairs behind.
It wasn’t until the second time up the finishing climb that the front of the race came back together, as Valgren pushed clear as part of a small group, together with Michael Gogl, and Daniele Bennati also joining from a small group behind over the top. This group was to explode again the next time up before a group of around 20 headed into the final ascent together.
Coming into the bottom corner in third position, Valgren jumped clear as soon as the road kicked up. At first three riders hung on to his wheel but as he powered on, they dropped off, leaving him to turn into the finishing straight alone, finishing a handful of seconds ahead of his rivals. Race leader, Daniele came across the line a few minutes back after losing contact on the penultimate climb.
“From the initial performance plan we were looking to support Valgren for the GC here, and we kept him safe until today,” Michaelsen continued. “Then with Benna’s win, suddenly we had another card, but today he didn’t have the legs for the finish. We just had to play the game at the end, and Gogl was up there also but unfortunately we had to use up Boaro towards the end which was the only down side as he was another card to play.
“The guys did a great job as we were down to seven from the start with Nikolay Trusov not able to start after his crash yesterday. Erik Baška and Michael Kolar did a good job controlling the race and then the other guys pulled on the finish laps to keep it together. Then Valgren finished off the job.”
“I had to take the opportunity today,” Valgren continued. “We have a really strong team here – they guys rode perfectly today for Benna and me. Benna and I spoke on the third lap that and he wasn’t too good so I took it up and it was up to me. Coming into the last climb I thought just give it a go. You had to be up there coming into the climb as it’s quite narrow and hard to move up. I keep my head cool and went full gas up the climb and it all worked out.
“Tomorrow’s time trial normally suits me well. When I look at the GC now, I should hopefully be able to gain some more time. The guys behind me are faster in the sprints so could maybe take some bonus seconds on the last stage so I want to make it safe tomorrow.”
Going into the stage as race leader, Daniele was pleased that the jersey passed to a teammate. “Like I said this morning, I didn’t know how my condition was still from day to day, but Michael Valgren is in super condition as you saw.”
Tomorrow’s fourth stage tackles a 19.6km individual time trial where Valgren will look to defend his race lead, and Manuele Boaro will look to put his TT strengths to good use.
Stage Result
1. Michael Valgren (DEN) Tinkoff 4:18:48
2. Alexander Kamp (DEN) Team Stölting Service Group +00:00:02
3. Marco Marcato (ITA) Wanty – Groupe Gobert +00:00:02
4. Rasmus Mygind (DEN) Riwal Platform Cycling Team +00:00:02
5. Magnus Cort (DEN) Team Postnord Danmark +00:00:06
20. Michael Gogl (AUT) Tinkoff +00:00:23
27. Manuele Boaro (ITA) Tinkoff +00:01:01
61. Daniele Bennati (ITA) Tinkoff +00:03:29
80. Pavel Brutt (RUS) Tinkoff +00:10:16
119. Erik Baška (SVK) Tinkoff +00:16:59
120. Michael Kolar (SVK) Tinkoff +00:16:59
GC After Stage 3
1. Michael Valgren (DEN) Tinkoff 12:43:50
2. Magnus Cort (DEN) Team Postnord Danmark +00:00:05
3. Alexander Kamp (DEN) Team Stölting Service Group +00:00:07
16. Michael Gogl (AUT) Tinkoff +00:00:31
21. Manuele Boaro (ITA) Tinkoff +00:01:12
33. Daniele Bennati (ITA) Tinkoff +00:03:06
58. Pavel Brutt (RUS) Tinkoff +00:10:27
76. Erik Baška (SVK) Tinkoff +00:19:13
121. Michael Kolar (SVK) Tinkoff +00:37:46
