Jesse Sergent may be known as a TT specialist but today he proved that he is much more than that when he won a big mountain stage of the Tour of Austria. Naturally, the Kiwi was delighted to have taken his first ever road race victory in a spectacular manner.

Jesse Sergent wins the fifth stage in the Tour of Austria from the day’s breakaway, sealing his first ever road stage win as a professional.

Known for his time trial prowess, not for his climbing, Jesse Sergent - who just celebrated his 26th birthday on July 8th - rode himself inside out to claim his first road win as a professional. 

The decision to race the highest mountain of the Tour of Austria, which topped out at 2500 meters, was questionable yesterday with poor weather forecasted, but did not deter Jesse Sergent from joining the day’s principal breakaway that formed early into the 146.4-kilometer mountain stage.

Sergent proved to be one of the strongest up the slopes of the long mountain ascent with fog, snow and cold weather plaguing the riders over the top and on the descent. 

Soon after the descent five riders regrouped from the original 11 riders who started the climb with six minutes lead. Jesse Sergent would launch the winning attack with 20 kilometers to go, and putting his time trial skills to use he never looked back. 

Yoann Bagot (Cofidis) and Patrick Konrad (Gourmetfein Simplon Wels) would round out the top three respectively.

“The breakaway went pretty much straight away and on the main climb it split and there were four of us in front," Sergent said. "On the descent the weather was terrible - it was snow, freezing cold - and by the bottom we had five of us. Dirk [Demol, director] came up to me and told me I had to try something on the small climb with about 20 kilometers to go, which was still far out, but I made a little acceleration. The others hesitated, and the gap opened; it went from 10 to 20 to 30 seconds. It was a really painful 20k’s! 

“At the bottom of the last climb it was one minute. I did not know I would win until I turned the last corner with 300 meters to go. I could not really believe it! I have just come off a break, and this is the first road stage I have ever won, and my first win in three years, so it’s very special. I have to say it was also the hardest!”

Director Dirk Demol knew today would be an opportunity for a breakaway to conceivably ride to the end, and the team plan was to be in the day’s escape group. Jesse Sergent managed to join the large breakaway group who moved clear in the opening kilometers, but with a category one preceding the looming hors catégorie, and a category two immediately following, it would be an arduous task for the Kiwi who entered professional road cycling from a track background.

“We knew that a group low on GC could have a chance today," Demol said. "It was the biggest climb of the tour and I could see that Jesse was climbing very well. After the descent there were five leaders and I told him to go on the last climb, and if he gained a gap of 20-30 seconds he might make it. It was pretty hard for him, he was suffering, but it was worth it when he won the stage.

“It was his first road stage as a professional and was not expected in a mountain stage. It was a super exciting! We came for a stage win, and also to do well in the GC, which still may be possible tomorrow in the queen stage. And we have Kirstof [Vandewalle], Bob [Jungels] and Jesse who can all do well in the TT on Saturday, too.”

Jesse Sergent crossed the finish line completely empty, but elated. His last win, in 2011, was in the prologue and the overall at the Three Days of West Flanders. Finally adding a road win to his palmares is special for Sergent, and a fantastic reward for the devoted teammate who is a fundamental part of the Classics’ team in support of Fabian Cancellara each year. 

“I could not have done this without the help of a lot of people: The team and especially Dirk who really encouraged me from the car and gave me motivation when I was suffering so much in the last part," Sergent said. "I want to dedicate this win to his daughter Shanna, who has endured a serious medical problem about a month ago and is in rehab.”