Ideal start for Marc Hirschi. Barely arriving within the Tudor team, the Bernese won this Sunday during his first race with the Swiss ProTeam, the Valence Grand Prix (see ranking). “It’s a perfect start. It’s very important for me and for the team to start like this”enjoys the former resident of UAE Team Emirates with DirectVelo. It gives me confidence, because you never know where you are before a first race. I trained well this winter, I was in good shape but in competition, it's always different. Looking ahead to the next races, everyone will be happy with a victory already, we will be able to work calmly.”
“AT THE LIMIT”
Unsurprisingly, the event contested between Valencia and La Nucia, overlooking Benidorm, was played out in the last difficulty, the Alto de Turron Duro, the summit of which was located nine kilometers from the finish. “The slope was so steep that it was difficult to attack, because you then had to pay for it. I tried to go at my own pace. There was no advantage to following another rider on this climb. If you ride behind or alone, it’s the same”. He found himself with Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain-Victorious), Jan Christen (UAE Team Emirates) and Christian Scaroni (XDS Astana Team). “They were in very good shape. I wanted to attack but the legs weren't good enough to do it. I was at the limit. I just tried to follow them to try my luck in the sprint”.
In the final, while Jan Christen was disturbed by cramps, Marc Hirschi was the only one to come back on Christian Scaroni, who had managed to gain a few lengths. “I knew that after the last turn there were 300 meters left. I had to wait a little bit before making my effort. Then I managed to get back on Christian Scaroni and get ahead of him. Everything went perfectly for me”. Enough to provoke the joy of the Tudor staff present at the finish line, located in a place without charm, nestled between a vast area under construction and a sports complex.
-HE SHOULD NOT BE THERE
Initially, Marc Hirschi was not expected to be at the start. But like other leaders, he was seduced by the presence on the Alto de Turron Duro route, a difficulty that few riders knew despite the multitude of teams present in training every winter on the Costa Blanca. “With the staff, we decided to change our plans when we saw this pass. Before, it was more intended for a sprint”recalls the one who succeeds Nucia, Arnaud De Lie, winner in 2023.
The 26-year-old puncher will now head to the Balearic Islands to compete in the Majorca Challenge. “I hope the weather will be good because when it rains there it can be very slippery. We will still have a great team, especially with Marco Brenner. I can’t wait to be there”. Just to continue the momentum.
