First German Victory in a Stage: Steinhauser Halts Pogacar's Reign
A 22-year-old German cyclist surprised everyone with a victory in the Giro d'Italia, defeating Tadej Pogacar, the dominating racer in the event. Georg Steinhauser, son of former pro cyclist Tobias Steinhauser, won his first professional race by conquering the Alps and stopping Pogacar's winning streak.
Steinhauser concluded his incredible ride by raising his arms in the air and then slapping his hands in front of his face in disbelief. He triumphed in a mountain finishing stage known as Passo Brocon, which was a 159-kilometer race. Remarkably, this was his first-ever professional win. Pogacar, who had already won five stage victories, managed to place second, trailing more than one and a half minutes behind.
In an emotional response, Steinhauser expressed his shock, stating, "I couldn't believe I had good legs. I gave it my all on the penultimate ascend, and it worked. The last climb, I knew I had to push myself to the limit. Although I heard Pogacar made a late attack, I focused on reaching the finish point in two kilometers."
Though Steinhauser's father, Tobias Steinhauser, was once part of a team with Jan Ullrich, nobody would confuse Tobias with the caliber of racers these two men have been. Steinhauser the elder was incredibly touched by his son's performance.
On a more dramatic note, Steinhauser outshone his teammate, Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier from Eritrea, shattering his hope for the win. The young rider had overcome an intensive 34-kilometer race, but Steinhauser proved to be just one step ahead. Steinhauser is currently riding for the American racing squad EF Education since making his professional debut in 2022. Tobias' greatest accomplishment was a stage win at the Tour de Suisse.
Pogacar remains the frontrunner in the overall race. Leading by nearly eight minutes, Daniel Felipe Martinez from the German team Bora-hansgrohe is the closest competitor. During the 178-kilometer 18th stage on Thursday, a sprinter is predicted to take charge, leaving the outcome of the overall lead unchanged.
Tobias cannot hide his excitement; he shed a tear during the Eurosport broadcast: "This is pure exhilaration. I don't hold it against him. This was an incredible race. He's remarkably superior to his father. He deserves recognition."
Steinhauser made his breakaway ahead of Ghebreigzabhier when there were approximately 34 kilometers left, a breakaway on a 11.9-kilometer final climb with an average slope of 6.4%. The stage finishes are a rare German victory in the over-a-century long Tour of Italy, with Nico Denz scoring it just last year.
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Steinhauser's impressive cycling performance during the Giro d'Italia didn't go unnoticed, as he managed to overtake Tadej Pogacar in a mountain finishing stage, delivering a victory that halted Pogacar's winning streak. Despite Pogacar's effort and being just a young cyclist himself, Steinhauer maintained his pace and crossed the finish line, securing his first professional win in cycling, much like his father did once in the Tour de Suisse.
Source: www.ntv.de
