Juan Sebastian Molano won Wednesday’s second stage of the Crorace in the sprint, beating Italy’s Giovanni Ronaldi and Australia’s Sam Welsford. This was UAE Team Emirates’ 76th win of the season, but Morano’s first of the year.
That’s an amazing statistic. Morano may not be considered one of the elite sprinters, but he has some impressive wins in the past, including a two-stage win at the Vuelta a España and a win at the UAE Tour. is sure to satisfy the team’s sponsors.
But until Wednesday, Morano had not been able to find success this season. Even with the help of all-rounder teammate and cycling superstar Tadej Pogačar, he was unable to win this year’s Giro d’Italia. After Morano did a lot of hard work in the early stages of the race, Pogačar showed great teamwork and was the lead-out for Morano on one stage.
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Morano looking for more wins
Now that his winning streak has finally been ended, Morano is excited. “I’m really happy to get our first win of the season,” he said on the team’s website. Morano expressed his desire for further success, saying, “I’ve been chasing victory for a while, but it didn’t come true.From now on, I want to step up even more and aim for another victory by the end of the year.”
The next two stages might be a little too difficult for him. Thursday’s route includes a significant climb, with the finale a grueling 500 meters at an 11 percent gradient that will be attempted multiple times. Friday’s finish is also uphill. However, Morano had two strong chances for a sprint finish over the weekend, which will give him an additional chance for victory.