Vuelta Debut Triumph: Mathias Vacek’s Remarkable Performance
Czech cyclist Mathias Vacek has been making waves in his first-ever Grand Tour, the Vuelta a España, with a series of impressive performances. The 22-year-old Lidl-Trek rider has already secured two second-place finishes and, in a recent interview with the Czech media facilitated by his agency Sportegy, expressed his determination to fight for a stage victory in the remainder of the race.
With nine stages completed, the peloton took a well-deserved rest day in Vigo, giving riders a chance to recharge. Despite the evident fatigue on his face, Vacek was visibly pleased with his achievements so far in this prestigious event. He finished second in the opening time trial and repeated the feat in stage 7, where he was narrowly beaten by Belgian star Wout van Aert.
Vacek admitted that even he was surprised by his success in his first Grand Tour experience. “I went into the time trial aiming for a top-five finish, but I came very close to winning. Then I was second again in stage 7. It’s an incredible feeling—no one expected this,” Vacek said, adding that missing out on a stage win was a bit disappointing.
Vacek credited his strong performance to the intense three-week training camp in Andorra, which was focused entirely on preparing for the Vuelta. He also highlighted the crucial role his team played in his success. Reflecting on the challenging nature of the Vuelta, Vacek said that the achievements and the teamwork provided him with immense motivation. He expressed confidence in finishing the Vuelta successfully and vowed to continue seeking stage victories.
As the second week promises to be even more demanding, Vacek plans to carefully choose his moments and push his limits in pursuit of a stage win. He also emphasized his commitment to supporting team leader Mattias Skjelmose in climbing the overall standings, with the hope of securing a top ten or even top-five finish.
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