WorldTour
Laurence Pithie caps off perfect teamwork with a win in Slovenia
Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe could hardly have asked for a better start to the Tour of Slovenia, as Laurence Pithie powered to victory on the opening stage and extended his impressive winning streak.
Exactly one month ago, on May 17, the young New Zealander claimed victory at the cycling classic in Cologne and kick-started a remarkable run of form. Since then, Pithie has stood on the top step of the podium every week, adding a fifth victory to his tally in Slovenia today.
That was really a team victory today.
Teamwork at Tour of Slovenia
© Mario Stiehl
Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe controlled the race from the outset, keeping an early breakaway firmly within reach. On one of the climbs before the finishing circuit, the team raised the pace and significantly reduced the size of the peloton. A new front group of around 35 riders emerged, featuring no fewer than six riders from the German squad.
In the finale, the team delivered a textbook team effort. After strong work from his teammates, Arne Marit launched the sprint early with Laurence Pithie glued to his wheel. Pithie surged past in the closing metres to take a convincing stage victory, while Marit completed the team’s perfect start with second place.
Laurence Pithie celebrating
© Mario Stiehl
"The team was incredible today. They set it up really perfectly for me. Ben rode from the start of the day, and then Jan did a really hard pace on the climb with 30km to go. We managed to get rid of a lot of the pure sprinters. Then Cata, Giulio and Lipo kept the pace high in the final, and Arne finished it off with a great lead-out. That was really a team victory today,” said Laurence Pithie after the finish.
