Dutch sprinter already sixth stage victory on the sunny side of the Alps
Dutch cyclist Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco Alula) is the winner of the introductory stage of the race across Slovenia. On the route from Piran to Škofljica (170.6 km), a sprint of the majority was expected, in which the 31-year-old AS from Amsterdam overtook the German Phila Bauhaus (Bahrain-Victorious) and Spaniard Manuel Penalver (Visitmalta complexion).
Thus, Groenewegen celebrated his sixth stage victory on the sunny side of the Alps. With this success, he approached the recorder of the Slovenian ribbon in just one victory Boštjan Mervar. Of our riders in the top ten ended yesterday Tilen Finkst (Adria Mobil) and Žak Eržen (Bahrain-Victorious), who landed in seventh and ninth place.
The stage was held according to a proven recipe. In the first part, the fleet of four was established, which the majority controlled all the time, especially after the climb of 90 km. Bonification Seconds were collecting mainly Fabio Christen (Q36.5), which will therefore start the second stage as the second in the overall ranking. The Swiss was desperate after the last mids of the goal, with the longest in the forefront of the locals Jaka Marolt (Factor Racing) and Matic Žumer (Adria Mobil).
The majority caught them nine miles ahead of the finish line, and then they were at the forefront of the team with the best sprinters. Among these was the band Jayco Alule. He also helped Mezgec and prepared the terrain to end his friend and teammate Groenewegna. The Dutchman thus came to 76. He wins his career. He celebrated the first on Slovenian roads in 2018, then was the best in 2022 and 2024, and in the meantime he received two more stages at 29.
In the second stage, he will wear a green T -shirt of the leader, and in the standings he has a second to jump ahead of Christ and four in front of Bauhaus. Finkst is the tenth with a lag of ten seconds.
Tomorrow’s second stage will take cyclists from Velenje via Celje hut (7.8 km/6.1 %) to Rogaška Slatina (162.7 km). It will start at 11.07 and end around 4pm.
Mezgec avoided problems
The introductory stage also marked some falls. In the 65 km before the end, several cyclists were on the ground, including two members of Jayco Alule. Mezgec avoided problems, but no one has resigned as a result of the fall. In the back of the route, however, young people also found himself on the ground Jacob Omrzel (Bahrain-Victorious) but was able to continue the test.
