After moving in to the race lead yesterday, Jakob successfully defended his yellow jersey to claim overall victory in Hungary.
The final stage along Lake Balaton was all about control for Jakob and the team. They managed the breakaway threat throughout, keeping the gap within three minutes as the race headed into the hills.
Then came the drama – echelons split the peloton on the exposed roads, and a move by the GC contenders forced the pace at the front. Jakob had a crash but he was back on his bike quickly, and his teammates immediately rallied around him to bring him back to the group.
They closed the gap, secured the finish, and with it the general classification. For Jakob, it is the first Men’s Elite GC title of his career.
It was a pleasure to see the team working together, doing this big effort, and really showing that we have the strength in numbers here
@Gettysport
Jakob’s view on how the team helped him win the Tour de Hongrie:
“Even if we had some troubles with me going down in the final, it was a pleasure to see the team working together, doing this big effort, and really showing that we have the strength in numbers here. When we had the opportunity to defend this, we grabbed it with both hands. To just look at this from behind with this jersey on, makes you so proud of the team that you can only enjoy it.”
“The final was a really hectic situation. Plapp (Team Jayco AlUla) put us under pressure, as he should. Then the wind was really strong and we were really fighter on the last centimeters of the road and I was the first to go down there. But in the end it was just a team effort today. I went on my own yesterday, but today I was nothing without the team.”
