Colby Simmons Takes Third Place in Second Stage of Tour of Slovakia
Colby Simmons of Jumbo-Visma impressed in the second stage of the Tour of Slovakia, finishing in third place. Despite not being a pure sprinter, Simmons was able to position himself well in the tricky final and narrowly missed out on the top spot.
Sports director Robert Wagner expressed his satisfaction with Simmons’ performance, stating, “Colby had a chance today, and he took it. We are happy with his third place…Ultimately, he just missed out and finished behind Merlier and Bol, two great names to share the podium with.”
Simmons himself was pleased with his opportunity and the support from his team, saying, “The team did a great job…It was a great day for me.” He also acknowledged the privilege of riding with the team and learning from the pros, adding, “At the moment, I am the leader of the young rider classification…Hopefully, I can play an important role there as well.”
The second stage of the Tour of Slovakia was not without its challenges, as the riders had to contend with heavy rain showers throughout the race. However, Jumbo-Visma and Soudal-Quick Step were able to take control of the peloton and support each other well. Sports director Wagner praised the team’s cooperation, stating, “The cooperation within the team was perfect.”
Looking ahead to the third stage, the team has its sights set on the mountains classification. Milan Vader currently holds the polka-dot jersey, and the goal is to extend his lead. Wagner suggested, “Tomorrow would be an excellent day for Milan to extend his lead with the many climbs ahead…The mountains classification is a target for us this week.”
The Tour of Slovakia continues with the riders collecting points for the mountains classification in the upcoming stage. With Simmons performing strongly and the team working well together, Jumbo-Visma is setting its sights on further success in the race.
