Matevž Govekar achieved the biggest victory of his career, winning the final stage of the 2024 Tour of Guangxi in Nanning, China.
The 24-year-old Slovenian cyclist delivered a stunning performance in the reduced bunch sprint, crossing the finish line ahead of Marijn van den Berg (EF Education-EasyPost) and another TBV rider Robert Stannard, in third place, after a hard-fought battle from start to finish, with a reduced peloton of 55 riders contesting the sprint. This marks also Govekar’s first WorldTour victory.
“I knew it was going to be a much harder stage, even though it was similar to last year’s,” said Govekar. “This time, being the final stage, we expected some GC battles. But from the start, I felt amazing, especially over the first KOM. I told myself to use my legs and survive the climb. On the last ascent, I wasn’t at the front, but I paced myself well. I knew I couldn’t blow up, or I wouldn’t make it back. I managed to catch the lead group at the end of the descent, which was enough to stay in contention for the final sprint.”
In the tense final moments, Govekar positioned himself perfectly behind Van den Berg’s wheel, waiting for the right moment to strike. “It was a small bunch sprint, so I knew who to follow. I waited until the last 150 meters to come out of the slipstream, and it worked perfectly. I’m really happy to end the week like this, after such a strong effort from everyone.”
Govekar came into the Tour of Guangxi with high expectations and strong form. “I had set a target before the race, but it’s a long week, and you need to feel good and arrive in the right condition. From the start today, I had a great feeling and was fully committed to winning a stage. I’ve had victories this year, but never at the WorldTour level. Coming to Guangxi with that motivation made all the difference.”
The team’s aggressive approach throughout the race created the right atmosphere for success. “We raced aggressively all week, and the team was fantastic. To finish the last stage with a win rounds out a great week for us. It’s a victory far from home, but it will definitely stay in my memory forever.”
