Vlasov about victory at the Paris-Nice stage race: “I knew the final climb and rode confidently”

Russian cyclist BORA‑hansgrohe Alexander Vlasov told that he knew the final climb of the won stage of the Paris-Nice stage race, so he felt confident.

Vlasov won the 7th stage of the World Tour stage race.

— At the start of the season, there were several podiums and we were just a little far from victory. Does today make up for that?

— Yes, I have won several prizes, but today everything went well. In addition, the race is prestigious, the stage is mountainous – I am very happy to have won.

— What was the general situation in the last part of the stage?

— At the start of the mountain, I realized that I felt good. Primož (Roglic), as I understand it, wanted to wait until the end, he didn’t think he would be allowed to escape. My task was, if there were attacks, to sit down. But when he attacked, everything happened in such a way that they stopped shooting, so… why not try? I tried to attack, I felt in my legs that I could turn well. The radio said it was 13 to 15 seconds ago. Then he walked the rest of the way without looking back.

Before that, I had already taken seconds in the general classification. Basically, I thought that if I attacked, it was unlikely that everyone would rush after me. So there was a chance, I understood it.

— The scene was not far from your home?

– Very close. I know the roads. “I also knew the final climb, so I rode with confidence,” Vlasov told .