Kusztor hits home climbs on Queen Stage in Hungary

Team Novo Nordisk hit the front again on todays Queen stage at the Tour de Hongrie with 20 year old Matyas Kopecky stepped up in the breakaway after fatigue set in for teammate Filippo Ridolfo and the chances of retaining the climbers jersey slipped away.

Head sports director Massimo Podenzana:

“We knew it may happen after the efforts of the last three days. Filippo was a little tired this morning, but he tried to attack repeatedly over the first 10km and the bunch just wouldn’t let him go.”

“That’s what happens in cycling, he’s shown himself now and when you step up, rode well and get into a jersey at this stage in a race you become a threat to the other teams fighting for that same jersey qnd the points. Filippo is a young rider and the experience is good for him, sometimes you have the energy to keep attacking and following, hoping for the right move but other times like today, tiredness kicks in.”

“The move Matyas followed ended up being the move of the day, so that was it, there was no chance of bridging with Filippo so we said goodbye to the climbers jersey and thanks for the experience. Peter rode well and tried his best to stay with the GC guys, and finished just off the back of them.”

Peter Kusztor:

“It’s a shame that quite a few teams didn’t want Filippo up the road today, but of course we understand why. He’s strong and he’s shown he’s a competitor in the breakaway’s. There are no gifts in professional cycling and it’s good that Filippo and Matyas learn this early.”

“I felt pretty good all day and could stay with the leaders until the last climb – which I know very well because these are my training roads – but I lost contact as the attacks started to fly out of the GC group.”

Photo credit: Sprint Cycling Agency