Team Giant Alpecin's Luka Mezgec was delighted with his stage win in the Tour De Haut Var.
Megzec beat Phillipe Gilbert to win at the end of a second stage in Draguignan in France and told his team: "It was hard today and at first look at the stage profile I didn't think I could be present at the finish but coach Aike [Visbeek] and the team had confidence in me and looked after me all day so I have to thank them all.
"We made a plan for me to save my legs right until the end where it would matter, and the confidence of the others really motivated me to be there. The guys got me into position at the bottom of the final climb, and at first I couldn't follow the front group but I wasn't giving up there.
"Together with two others I attacked from the second group and managed to jump across to the leaders where Chad was already present. It was a big effort but I managed to recover just before the sprint. Chad then got me into the right wheel and I could do a really good sprint.
"I knew from feelings and the analysis of the numbers in training that I am at a higher level compared to last year but you always need a big result to confirm this for the confidence, so it's good that I've got this win so early in the season."
Dutch coach Alke Visbeek said: "Luka was on a really good level today and he never gave up, that was one of the key factors. We said that as a team we would protect him all day and he believed in it and saved his energy well.
"Chad did a strong ride to get into the front group on the final climb and this was perfect for Luka to jump across to so Chad was there to help at the finish.
"The team as a whole WAS great today, we made a few mistakes yesterday and learnt from these, and today we got it right. As Luka said it will be good for his confidence to get a win this early in the season and to confirm his strength."
Source: DSG
