Toms Skujins (Lidl-Trek) completed his journey into Siena in a heap on the moist cobbles of Piazza del Campo, then picked himself as much as settle for a runner-up prize on the 2024 Strade Bianche.
He admitted that it was a shock even to himself to have remained mentally sturdy, then bodily tenacious, in over-powering Maxim van Gils (Lotto-Dstny) on the steep By way of Santa Catarina climb for second place. Regardless that he crossed the road 2:44 behind breakaway winner Tadej Pogačar (UAE Crew Emirates), it nonetheless felt like a significant accomplishment for the 32-year-old.
“It’s not a win however second to Tadej Pogačar is sort of good. If somebody had mentioned I’d come second at the moment I might not have believed,” he mentioned after the end.
“I imply, truthfully, with out the crew, I might haven’t been second. Yeah, they actually did every little thing they may. It is a pity, I imply, towards Tadej, there’s not a lot you are able to do. I feel with every little thing that occurred at the moment, we may be greater than happy.”
Skujiņš was one in every of many riders who launched an assault earlier than the primary quick gravel sector in Vidritta, simply 14km into the 215km trek. Earlier than Pogačar shook up the race fully, Skujiņš had a number of mishaps and he was centered on staying within the entrance half of the peloton.
“I flatted twice already earlier than I crashed. Each instances I truly took the wheel from Jacopo [Mosca]. And each instances, Eddie [Theuns] and Fabio [Felline], they waited for me to get me again into the combination. After which they, as at all times, make certain we’re nicely positioned for sector seven [San Martino in Grania],” he recounted.
“I used to be behind a crash on sector seven, so I used to be chasing again after which [on the climb of] Santa Maria, all I used to be interested by was simply holding on to the group. That is the place my gears had been leaping round a little bit bit. So it was a extremely laborious second.”
The sunny situations by means of the rolling Tuscan countryside abruptly modified to heavy rain and chunks of hail because the entrance of the peloton completed the five-star San Martino in Grania sector of gravel and made their method up the Monte Sante Marie climb. It was on the steepest part of the climb with 81km to race that Pogačar launched his vicious assault and struck out on his solo assault. Solely Van Gils jumped away in a lone quest to achieve him.
With 74km to go, Skujinš appeared to journey into teammate Quinn Simmons and each went down laborious. They had been capable of restart however Lidl-Trek had misplaced a whole lot of momentum.
“I imply, after I crashed, and my gears weren’t working with all of the mud and every little thing, it was a tough second,” Skujinš advised reporters after the end.
“I had no clue what was happening in entrance of me. I imply, I knew Tadej was alone and I knew Maxim was alone behind him. However in that second, all I might take into consideration was simply staying in that group. I used to be considering the place to alter the bikes. Fortunately we had, after Santa Maria, a little bit little bit of street, so I bought on a recent bike.”
A former Latvian champion within the time trial and street race, Skujinš was happy with his journey, because it represented what he might do towards adversity in a brand new management position. He got here into Strade Bianche with six days of racing this season which have included a top-20 at Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne and eighth on the time trial stage at Etoile de Bessèges.
“It is the primary time I have been designated chief in a race, and I hope I paid them again nicely,” he mentioned in reference to a powerful displaying at Kuurne’s 1.Professional occasion. “Already final weekend, I positively might see that I’ve stepped up once more. I imply, that is the objective yearly is to step up, step up, step up, and yearly I in some way handle to do it. And it is tremendous good to do it once more.
He earned a WorldTour contract in 2015 after aggressive racing on the Continental degree with Hincapie Racing that included three stage victories in three appearances on the Tour of California, the ultimate one in 2018 a frantic dash on the Laguna Seca raceway to carry off a charging peloton of veterans that included Caleb Ewan, Peter Sagan and Egan Bernal. He demonstrated his endurance this time in Siena.
“It was positively a battle, not simply bodily but in addition mentally,” he mentioned. “I imply, it is probably the most lovely podiums that you may have with the end on this sq. in Siena, so it is at all times good. It’s a very particular race. You at all times know it is gonna be loopy.
“You simply must maintain preventing and at the moment was positively a type of days. I imply, anyplace on the rostrum, I’m very happy.”
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