June 11th, 2022
Spaniard from Movistar Team opens pro victory account in Vaujany after long breakaway alongside Gregor Mühlberger; takes long effort to fruition against charging Primoz Roglic. Telefónica-backed squad up to 17 wins in 2022
Dedication, values and effort have been rewarded on Saturday on stage seven of the 2022 Critérium du Dauphiné, as a top sportsperson and human being, Carlos Verona (Movistar Team), crowned a twelve-year pro career with a well-deserved maiden victory atop the ski resort of Vaujany.
The Madrilian crowned an excellent job in a beautiful mountain stage, with the Col du Galibier (Hors Categorie) right from the start and followed by the endless Col de la Croix-de-Fer (Especial), where Verona and Gregor Mühlberger (image above), part of an 18-rider breakaway, revealed themselves as two of the strongest in the field. The Austrian shook the group up several times and followed every mode so Carlos could only get into the action at the top of the second ascent. The Spaniard escaped with Kenny Elissonde (TFS), and later left the Frenchman behind with 5km to go, to go for glory from the foot of the decisive ascent.
Despite the late moves from the GC contenders and the furious final attempt from Primoz Roglic (TJV), eventually 2nd over the line, Verona could taste, following an agonic effort, a sweet victory that takes the Movistar Team to 17 wins in 2022. Matteo Jorgenson remains in 8th overall -just 1″ off the Young Riders’ competition lead- before the decisive climb of the Plateau de Solaison (HC) on Sunday, right after the grueling Col de la Colombière.
REACTION / Carlos Verona:
“This is just incredible. It’s been 12 years as a pro for me, already; I think I always performed decently, improving constantly, but I always lacked a victory, I was never the winning kind of rider. I’ve gained confidence over the last few years, I came close quite a few times -twice 3rd in TDF stages, 2nd at La Vuelta last year-, and when I was into the breakaway today, I said: ‘It has to be today!’. I knew the finish, because we came to the Alps to recon Tour stages and we took advantage to check this course with the team. I’ve got so much to thank for to Gregor Mühlberger, because he worked so hard for me into the escape. We made the right moves, the legs were great, and in the end, opening my victory account – I’m just so happy.
“In the finale, I was thinking: ‘You’ll see, I’m always so unlucky, Roglic will come past like a jet and will take it away from me.’ I just rode like a TT – I had Patxi Vila, who is also my coach, giving me support and time gaps at the team car. I just struggled, like a dog, and only with 200 meters to go I looked behind to make sure, because I was at unbearable levels of agony, and enjoyed it, so much. I thought about my wife and the kids, because it’s always so much time away from them, in altitude training, competing – they’re my motivation. This victory is for them and the team. It’s not an easy era for us, and we deserve this. Lots of work behind, many months of sacrifice – a big weight off our shoulders. Having this picture for me is so beautiful and big motivation, to never settle and continue improving.”
STAGE CLASSIFICATION
- Carlos Verona (Movistar Team) in 03h53’35’’
- Primož Roglič (Jumbo – Visma) at 13’’
- Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo – Visma) at 25’’
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
- Primož Roglič (Jumbo – Visma) in 25h22’08’’
- Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo – Visma) at 44’’
- Ben O’Connor (AG2R Citroën Team) at 1’24″
