Gimeno stunned by first professional win at LTdL
BATU PAHAT: Equipo Kern Pharma rider Nil Gimeno was lost for words after claiming the first professional victory of his career by winning Stage Seven of the Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) from Melaka to Batu Pahat on Saturday.
Equipo Kern Pharma rider Nil Gimeno experienced disbelief following his first professional triumph, clinching Stage Seven of the Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) by prevailing in the sprint during a breakaway group on Saturday. The 22-year-old crossed the finish line first, completing the 158.9km stage in 3 hours, 12 minutes, and 33 seconds.
Gimeno's rival, Mario Aparicio, secured second place, while Andrei Stepanov from WheelTop Rotor Chengdu Team claimed the third position. Gimeno admitted he hadn't anticipated victory when the race entered the final kilometer, exclaiming, "No, honestly, no. I can't believe it." The Spanish rider emphasized that Equipo Kern Pharma aimed to secure at least one stage victory after their earlier failure in Stage Four.
He mentioned that everyone in the breakaway group put forth maximum effort throughout the day, working together to achieve the feat. Gimeno credited his confidence in the sprint for his triumphant finish, stating, "With one kilometer to go, I thought, No, I have to win today. I knew they were also fast, but I was very confident in my sprint. So I just wanted to stay behind and launch my sprint with 200 to 150 meters remaining."
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