Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Michael Storer, an American cyclist, continued his superb start to the Western cycling season by defending his lead in the Tour of the Alps and clinching his biggest career victory.
After a difficult next step on Wednesday, another American celebrity Jai Hindley still looked a danger to his fellow countryman in third place, even though the Tudor Pro Cycling win held on to his 41-second lead in the five-day tour in Austria and Italy.
Storer had a big lead over the area in Tuesday’s challenging next step, soloing into Mezzolombardo after attacking 11 km from house on the ultimate climb and opening up an unanticipated big lead.
That was 28-year-old Storer’s next dramatic step victory of the time, coming from the secession in the snowfall on the final stage of Paris-Nice in March.
Storer, who has won two Grand Tour stage victories at the Vuelta a Espanas again this year and is now in the shape of his life, was pleased to support his lead on Wednesday in Italy.
On the 145.5km route between Sterzing and Innichen, home favorite Marco Frigo ( Israel-Premier Tech ) won by 19 seconds, with Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe’s Hindley taking home the pursuers in second in a sprint finish.
The uncommunicative Storer sounds slowly convinced as he looks forward to the last two legs of the trip, but Thursday’s third stage may show significant as another rocky trek over 162.7 kilometers in Austria from Sillian to Obertilliach.
He had stated on Tuesday that when you’re the strongest, you can just ride away like I did today.
” That feeling doesn’t come very frequently. Only the days after winning have made me feel it. When you feel that way, you can do a lot. I’m also stronger than I was last year, which is really because of Tudor, who stand by me and give me the confidence and support I’ve been seeking for a long time.
In fourth place, Hindley, the 2022 Girod’Italia winner, is now 45 seconds clear of Storer, while third-placed Frenchman Paul Seixas and second-placed Italian Giulio Ciccone ( Lidl-Trek ) are both 41 seconds ahead.
