Reaction from Thibau Nys after a maiden WorldTour victory from the first breakaway of his career:
“I was so disappointed yesterday that I couldn’t show my good legs. We made a plan to go in the break if it was a strong one. I think I set up the break in the perfect moment. It was a group of pretty strong guys, I just tried to save as much energy as possible but I didn’t really know what to expect to be honest because it was the first time I’m in the breakaway in my career.
“Also I didn’t really know the last climb or the corners, so I must say a massive thanks to the Team, they did a hell of a job to guide me in the last kilometers. I was surprised when Michi [Schär, Sports Director] told me there was a hairpin 200m to go, I almost missed it but it was just in time for me to make my sprint.
“It gets difficult if you think about it [that it’s your race to lose], that’s the moment when it can slip out of your hands. I tried to stay cool and not risk anything, then do everything at the right moment.
“I cannot describe this. For some people it might just look like a normal victory, but I wanted it so bad and I worked so hard for it. It was the first big goal of the season to be in good shape here. That’s one thing, and then to win it’s something else. I will remember this for the rest of my life.
“My TT is not good enough at the moment to keep the jersey, but I will enjoy my day in Yellow tomorrow and I will definitely sleep better than yesterday after today. I started my season three days ago and to be sitting here right now is better than I could ever dream of.”
