Michael Albasini continues Mitchelton-Scott hot streak with stage win at Fjords

Mitchelton-Scott is on fire. Aside from current race leader Simon Yates (GBR) winning three stages at the Giro d’Italia, including Stage 15 on Sunday, in the last 24 hours not only has Amanda Spratt (AUS) won a stage and the overall at Emakumeen Bira (2.WWT) on Tuesday, but Michael Albasini (SUI) also sprinted to a penultimate stage win on the second day of the Tour des Fjords (UCI 2.HC) in Norway on Wednesday.

According to Albasini, winning is contagious and the team is motivated by the success of their teammates racing — and winning — around the world.

“It’s inspiring for everybody what Simon is doing at the Giro, and you want to go as good as you can as well,” the 37-year-old veteran told Eurosport after the 188.9km from Risør to Kristiansand. “We actually rode really good yesterday and we did even better today. The guys did an awesome job.

“I was in perfect position in this tricky final — which was key, so I was always there,” Albasini explained further referring to the 2.5-lap circuit finish, which resulted in a reported crash inside the final kilometre. “I was in the right spot three or four riders back in the last corner, which was the place to be at the end, and I was super happy with my sprint, so it was great.”

Albasini claimed he did not see the crash, but admitted he was happy to have avoided it.

“It was a bit too tricky for a bunch kick and it was super hectic again,” he said. “So I am happy myself and all my teammates stayed out of trouble.”

From the gun Austrian Michael Gogl (Trek-Segafredo), Dutchman Floris Gerts (Roompot-Nederlandse Loterij) and Norwegian Aksel Aasheim (Joker Icopal) launched a three-man break. With an average speed of 45km/h, the trio extended the gap to more than two and a half minutes at the midway point in the 188.9-kilometre penultimate stage of the three day race.

Gogl pulled out with 70km to go, leaving his break-mates with a 2:10 gap on surging peloton pulled by Sunweb and Quick-Step. The pair were swallowed prior to the finishing circuit in Kristiansand.

The third and final stage features a grueling hilltop finish with a max gradient of 9 percent inside the final 600 metres. Stage 1 winner Fabio Jakobsen (Quick-Step Floors) maintains the race leader’s jersey on even time with Albasini with Thursday’s 183.8km finale from Farsund to Egersund on deck. The 21-year-old Dutchman also keeps both the points and youth jerseys for another day.

Albasini’s teammate Carlos Verona, who spent the majority of Stage 1 in a five-man break to claim six KOM points on the day, was able to lift the mountains classification from Norwegian Henrik Evensen of (Joker Icopal), who now trails Verona by two points.

“I reckon there is another jersey to collect,” said Albasini. “So we are going to keep going and do our best to win another stage or maybe GC.”

Verona later concurred.

“Tomorrow is a big day,” the 25-year-old told Eurosport. “We saw today that the team is well, everybody is focused committed and in good shape. For sure we will go for everything — keep the [KOM] jersey — and Albasini is up there on GC. You saw today he is super good, so why not try and win Tour des Fjords.”

For full stage and race results, click here.