Jakob Fuglsang Takes Victory in Mercan’Tour Classic with Strong Performance from Israel – Premier Tech Team

Jakob Fuglsang of the Israel – Premier Tech team emerged victorious in the Mercan’Tour Classic after a dominant display by his teammates, with Michael Woods securing a second-place finish. Fuglsang expressed his gratitude to his team, saying, “I’m really happy I could finish off the hard work from the guys. The start of the season was a bit difficult for me so I’m super relieved and happy to be able to win this race.”

The Israel – Premier Tech team took control of the mountainous French one-day race from the start, ensuring that the breakaway didn’t gain an overwhelming advantage. On the penultimate climb, Col de la Couillole, the team increased the pace, significantly reducing the size of the peloton and eventually catching the breakaway. By the time they reached the top of the climb, only 15 riders remained, including Fuglsang, Woods, and Chris Froome.

As the front group tackled the final climb, Col de Valberg, Fuglsang launched a decisive attack with 6.5 kilometers remaining. None of his competitors could respond to his acceleration, allowing him to secure his first victory for Israel – Premier Tech. Woods successfully controlled the chasers and sprinted to a well-deserved second place, resulting in a first and second-place finish on the podium for the team.

Sports director Zak Dempster praised the team’s performance, stating, “It was a super good day for the team and we have to enjoy this one. Going into the race, we had a really clear plan to make a selection and give ourselves a numerical advantage. The guys were great and especially James Piccoli had a really good day, causing a big selection on the climbs.” Dempster added, “Everybody knows that it has been a complicated first part of the season for us so it was great to see the guys come back like that with this kind of attitude. From now on, we only look forward.”