Persistence is a fickle strategy in professional cycling, but for EF Education-EasyPost’s Michael Valgren, three weeks of relentless breakaway hunting finally yielded a massive result. On Wednesday’s 202-kilometer trek from Cassano d’Adda to Andalo, the veteran Dane secured his first career Grand Tour stage victory, relying on sheer stubbornness and flawless late-race timing.
Valgren embedded himself in the large early breakaway and managed to survive the brutal attrition of the final climb. Despite being repeatedly pushed into the red by his escape companions, he refused to drop. As the decimated lead group entered the final 1.1 kilometers, a brief tactical hesitation stalled their momentum. Valgren instantly capitalized on the lull, launching a massive surge from the back of the group. The sudden acceleration caught his rivals staring at each other, allowing him to quickly establish a gap and power his way to the finish line.
Crossing the tape, Valgren celebrated by pulling a team-colored Pokémon lucky charm out of his jersey pocket—a gift from his son. It was a well-deserved moment of levity for a rider who has spent his career chasing a win on this specific stage. With the brutal mountain passes returning later this week, the rest of the peloton will gladly let EF Education-EasyPost enjoy their moment in the spotlight.
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