Bahrain Victorious marked the first victory of the 2024 season as Slovenian champion Matej Mohorič showcased his prowess with a commanding solo win on stage 2 of the Volta a La Comunitat Valenciana (Canals-Mancomunitat De La Valldigna, 162.7 km). Mohorič strategically utilized the final technical descent, accelerating with power and leveraging his exceptional downhill skills to maintain a crucial advantage over his rivals.

“I knew I was the favorite for the day, and that didn’t intimidate me,” Mohorič stated. “We studied this final during the training camp and agreed it suited me very well. I was focused on today’s stage to go for the win.”

The day posed challenges for Bahrain Victorious as we were reduced to five riders due to Kamil Gradek and Yukiya Arashiro’s absence, both sidelined by a stomach bug and an allergic reaction after an insect bite, respectively. 

Despite the setbacks, other teams contributed to closing the gap to the breakaway. The remaining teammates played a pivotal role in supporting Mohorič during the climb and positioning him perfectly for the decisive descent.

Following the third-category pass of Pla de Corrals, Mohorič demonstrated his intent, launching a decisive attack. While a few riders attempted to respond, the Slovenian accelerated once again on the fast and technical descent, ending just 1.7 km from the finish line and securing victory.

Mohorič’s triumph also earned him the points jersey, and Santiago Buitrago claimed the lead in the best young rider classification. With these achievements, Bahrain Victorious currently holds the position of the best team after two stages.

Sports Director Roman Kreuziger commented on the challenging morning due to missing riders, praising the team’s resilience: “We stay grounded and continue working because the race is demanding, and as we witnessed last year, situations can change rapidly, even in the final short stages,” Kreuziger concluded.