CyclingQuotes.com uses cookies for statistics and targeting ads. This information is shared with third parties.
ACCEPT COOKIES » MORE INFO »

Every day we bring you more pro-cycling news

“Today was an amazing day for me and a big step forward. I had great support from the team all week and especially from Ryder. Thanks to him and the entire team. This is such a special victory," Talansky says

Photo: Sirotti

ANDREW TALANSKY

RIDER PROFILE
|
NEWS

CRITERIUM DU DAUPHINE

RACE PROFILE
|
NEWS

EF EDUCATION - EASYPOST

TEAM PROFILE
|
NEWS

RYDER HESJEDAL

RIDER PROFILE
|
NEWS
15.06.2014 @ 21:22 Posted by Emil Axelgaard

Andrew Talansky did what most had thought impossible when he denied Chris Froome and Alberto Contador the overall win in the Criterium du Dauphiné by launching a long-distance attack in the final stage. The result confirms his great potential but even though it proves how far he has come, he refuses to see himself as a Tour de France favourite.

 

In 2012 he was second in the Tour de Romandie and last year he was second in the Paris-Nice and 10th in his debut Tour de France. Andrew Talansky has proved that he is one of the greatest stage racing talent but today he stepped into a new league when he won one of the most difficult races on the calendar, the Criterium du Dauphiné.

 

It was not only the win itself that makes people wonder how far Talansky can come. The fact that he had beaten Chris Froome and Alberto Contador makes the feat even more impressive and the way he stole it all in the final stage made him look like a true champion.

 

Going into the final stage, he was sitting in third overall but he refused to being content with a position as the best of the rest. On the first climb of the day, he went on the attack and in a direct duel againt Contador he emerged as the strongest.

 

“I didn't plan to do anything like this, especially today as it was the last chance for many teams to go and try to win a stage," he said. "We saw some riders attacking so Ryder [Hesjedal] and I went with them.

 

"Towards the end, we had the time gaps but I was trying not to think of winning the race but I focused on my ride only. Once I past the finishing line and I looked at the TV screen, that's when I realized I won.

 

"It's an absolute honour to win the Dauphiné. This is the biggest victory of my career so far and I hope there's more to come. I've always believed, and my entourage always believed that I'm capable of achieving something like this but it takes time to put results on the road. It pays off for all the sacrifices I and my family do. It's a reward for my passion for cycling. Moments like this make it up for all the bad moments I've had on the bike.

 

“Today was an amazing day for me and a big step forward. I had great support from the team all week and especially from Ryder. Thanks to him and the entire team. This is such a special victory.

 

“I didn’t truly believe it after I crossed the line and watched the seconds tick by. I knew what the time gap was at the bottom of the climb and Bingen Fernández was giving me updates from the car. It was steady but I thought that there was a chance Contador would hit the final climb and come up to me or at least take 30 seconds back but after such a hard day, such a hard week, everyone was pretty tired and I was able to hold onto the gap.”

 

Despite his win, Talansky refuses to see himself as a favourite for the Tour de France.

 

“I have to say my fitness this week didn’t surprise me," he told Cyclingnews. "I knew exactly where I was coming into the race and I planned to get better during the race. I didn’t expect that would end with the podium or a race win but it did. So for the Tour, it doesn’t really change a thing. The Tour is the Tour and the Dauphiné is the Dauphiné, and you have to stay realistic.” 

 

Hesjedal played an instrumental role in setting up Talansky's win.

 

“Helping Andrew take the win today was a honor," he said. "Its been a hard week of racing but we’ve worked as a team and I’m really proud of his victory. Andrew showed amazing grit and perseverance and I couldn’t be happier for him and the team.”

 

“We knew coming in that today’s short, hilly stage could be dangerous," sports director Gert Van Bondt said. "After 20 km there was a short hard climb, where there were many attacks and a group of 21 riders went clear. Andrew and Ryder were in it so it was the perfect situation for us. 

 

"Ryder did an amazing job helping Andrew all day and all week. Then, at  20 km to go, we told Andrew that he had to do his own TT and give everything and go for the GC win. He did it, and he showed today that he is a true champion. We are very happy and proud of this win.”

MORE NEWS:

VIEW SELECTED

Bycykling 101: Navigering i byens gader og cykelvenlige... 27.11.2023 @ 12:11The Best Danish Cyclist To Bet On At 2022 Tour De France 13.01.2022 @ 15:262022 Upcoming Tournament Overview 03.01.2022 @ 09:45Best Place to Find Stand-Up Paddleboards 16.06.2021 @ 08:16What are Primoz Roglic’s Chances to Win 2021 Tour de Fr... 17.03.2021 @ 08:37Amazing victory by young champion Sarah Gigante 04.02.2021 @ 14:21Three reasons why cycling is one of the best ways to ex... 28.09.2020 @ 12:03Why do businesses use meeting room managers? 14.09.2020 @ 13:42Five things that you can do, if you want to gain more f... 20.08.2020 @ 15:38One for the road 09.06.2020 @ 15:25List of CyclingQuotes previews 07.05.2020 @ 13:20Blue Energy: room for all interests 26.08.2019 @ 12:56Get your daily dose of exercise at home 08.07.2019 @ 10:443 good advice to be able to afford your favorite bike 25.02.2019 @ 12:32Cycle through gorgeous landscapes 22.10.2018 @ 21:41Balance Your Economy and Diet and Start Saving Money 08.10.2018 @ 11:18Stay Safe: 3 Helmets That Can Keep Your Head Protected... 20.07.2018 @ 07:59Planning to bet on Tour De France - Bet types and strat... 24.05.2018 @ 14:18Basics of cycling betting 25.10.2017 @ 13:10Bauer moves to ORICA-SCOTT 28.08.2017 @ 10:45End of the road for CyclingQuotes 08.01.2017 @ 16:00Rui Costa confirms Giro participation 07.01.2017 @ 12:55Van Avermaet: I am not afraid of Sagan 07.01.2017 @ 09:45Unchanged course for E3 Harelbeke 07.01.2017 @ 09:32Jenner takes surprise win at Australian U23 Championships 07.01.2017 @ 08:53No replacement for Meersman at Fortuneo-Vital Concept 06.01.2017 @ 19:14Barguil with two goals in 2017 06.01.2017 @ 19:06More details about French Vuelta start emerges 06.01.2017 @ 14:16Kristoff to start season at Etoile de Besseges 06.01.2017 @ 14:10Ion Izagirre announces schedule for first year at Bahrain 06.01.2017 @ 12:40JLT Condor optimistic for Herald Sun Tour 06.01.2017 @ 09:19Haas leads Dimension Data trio in fight for Australian... 06.01.2017 @ 09:15Sagan spearheads Bora-hansgrohe at Tour Down Under 06.01.2017 @ 09:12Henao and Thomas lead Sky Down Under 06.01.2017 @ 09:09Bauer crowned New Zealand TT champion 06.01.2017 @ 08:33Van der Poel ready to defend Dutch title 05.01.2017 @ 21:00Pantano ambitious for first Tour with Trek 05.01.2017 @ 20:41Landa with new approach to the Giro 05.01.2017 @ 20:36Sunweb Development Team sign Goos and Zepuntke 05.01.2017 @ 20:27Dumoulin confirms Giro participation 05.01.2017 @ 20:19Bauer targets victories in Quick-Step debut 05.01.2017 @ 20:16Gaviria and Boonen lead Quick-Step in San Juan 05.01.2017 @ 20:13Team Sunweb presented in Germany 05.01.2017 @ 20:09ASO take over major German WorldTour race 05.01.2017 @ 11:01Team Sunweb unveil new jersey 05.01.2017 @ 10:54Reactions from the Australian TT Championships 05.01.2017 @ 08:27Dennis defends Australian TT title 05.01.2017 @ 08:21Scotson takes back to back U23 TT titles in Australia 05.01.2017 @ 08:15Utrecht on track to host 2020 Vuelta 04.01.2017 @ 18:28Pre-season setback for Talansky 04.01.2017 @ 17:56Kristoff: It's not impossible for me to win in Rou... 04.01.2017 @ 17:49Boom close to first cyclo-cross win in LottoNL debut 04.01.2017 @ 17:40UAE Abu Dhabi make late signing of Arab rider 04.01.2017 @ 17:36UAE Abu Dhabi unveil new jersey 04.01.2017 @ 17:30BMC unveil race schedule 04.01.2017 @ 17:21

Currently no news in this list

Urte JUODVALKYTE
38 years | today
Robert BARTKO
49 years | today
Alonso GAMERO
32 years | today
Thomas ROHREGGER
42 years | today
Sam COOK
24 years | today

© CyclingQuotes.com