Just over ten months ago Team Katusha rider Angel Visioso wasn’t sure if his career was suddenly over when he suffered a complex threefold right femur fracture in the 2014 Giro d’Italia. But Vicioso felt there was more to give to the sport of cycling and his comeback victory in Saturday’s Gran Premio Miguel Indurain confirmed that the 37 year-old Spanish rider still has what it takes to win in professional cycling. It was his first victory for Katusha in a week that brings the total team wins to 13, seven of them coming in the last 8 days. 
 

"I am so happy! Especially after my crash last year, which I thought would end my career. Also, I am happy with this victory, because I really like this route. I take part in this race for the fourth time in a row and I was always good here. Today I was lucky and my family was here to support me. I am happy I was able to win in front of their eyes. The race was hard, we had to fight against a strong Movistar team. They were very active with a number of attacks, but Katusha also was there. Claudio Cozzi directed us so well. For me this is my first victory in 4 years, my debut win for Team Katusha, and I am really happy to bring it to my team," said Angel Vicioso.

Last May 15 in the sixth stage of the 2014 Giro d’Italia, Vicioso, along with teammates Joaquim Rodriguez and Giampaolo Caruso, went down in a massive crash and had to abandon the race.  Vicioso’s injuries were the most severe and one day later he underwent a 3,5 hour operation where his thighbone was repaired and screws were used to fixate the femoral neck. What followed were months and months of rehabilitation and hard training on the road to return to the sport. 

The Gran Premio Miguel Indurain is the most successful race of Team Katusha. Since 2010 a rider from the team has either won or been on the podium in this popular Spanish one-day race. Vicioso now joins teammates Joaquim Rodriguez, Daniel Moreno and Simon Špilak in the winner’s circle.

A special message came to Vicioso via Twitter immediately after the race: “On May 15 I thought you would have to retire, and only you said no. No one deserves this more than you. You gave us a lesson in overcoming,” teammate Joaquim Rodriguez wrote.

The Gran Premio Miguel Indurain was held around Estella in Navarra, Spain (192,7 km). The race is famous with its hilly profile with an steep uphill finish on the way to Basilica de Puy. The race was controlled by Movistar, but Team Katusha in every moment also was in front to protect its interests in this race. Closer to the final of the race, Katusha became very active with a number of attacks. Angel Vicioso was among the riders, who attacked on the final kilometers together with Beñat Intxausti, Ion Izagirre (both – Movistar) and Janier Acevedo (Team Cannondale-Garmin).

This group managed to get a half minute of advantage and to hold it until the finish line. In the powerful uphill sprint Angel Vicioso was the rider, who took a perfect win ahead of Izagirre (2nd) and Intxausti (3rd).

Another Team Katusha rider Daniel Moreno was 6th.