[ad_1]
Unimpressed by his favorite status, the 22-year-old is leading a strong career. In the final sprint he does not act according to his age.
Boiled like a seasoned pro: Hirschi races to bronze in the World Cup.
Video: SRF
When he becomes the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari and slowly approaches the finish line, Marc Hirschi has only one goal: he wants to get to the rear wheel of Wout Van Aert. At the Tour de France, even the sprinters lost twice to the Belgian, making him the clear favorite in this final sprint for silver and bronze.
“I thought to myself: if I can hold his rear wheel to a certain extent, I can finish third,” says Hirschi, showing once again how tough he is in such situations.
It will be a long sprint and Michal Kwiatkowski is very close to Hirschi. He does not dare to cheer, he is so close, he only has to see the face of the 2014 world champion to realize that it was enough for the bronze medal, with an advantage of just four inches.
Long in power save mode
Then he stands on the podium, his smile so wide that it can be easily recognized by his narrowed eyes despite his mask. He says: “This success means a lot to me. Confirming once again after the Tour de France that I have this level to be able to ride up front, that also gives me confidence for the future. “
Hirschi (right) shines on the podium.
Photo: Eric Lalmand (ZUMA Sports Wire / Freshfocus)
As if this one is still missing! At 22, Hirschi runs like a veteran. At the team meeting on Saturday, he clearly stated how the Swiss team should support him: By keeping him out of battles for positions on the field as long as possible, he could spend the first few hours of racing in power-saving mode.
Therefore, the Swiss have led the field early and for a long time. The result: at the 200-kilometer mark, Hirschi only has Enrico Gasparotto with him. Perhaps that is why the Bernese has certain doubts. In any case, on the penultimate lap, Hirschi explains to Gasparotto, the native Italian, who disputes his first cycling world championship with Switzerland at 38 years old, that he does not feel so well and that Gasparotto could have to bet on a result. ..
“In the end he didn’t need any real attack, everyone was so shattered.”
It turns out different. Gasparotto backs up a bit later due to a gear change problem, Hirschi is now alone. Never mind. Because the pace is so fast now that only the strongest are in front anyway. Hirschi included.
In the last lap, it is he who breaks the group of favorites, although he does not consider his approach an attack: “The course made the selection. In the end, he didn’t need any real attacks, everyone was so shattered. And Alaphilippe was just stronger. “
The French attacked at the top of the last climb, no one can react to his departure. Hirschi remains in the exclusive chasing group, concentrates on sprinting for the other medals and succeeds.
Second most successful World Cup in history
It is the second consecutive bronze medal in a road race, after Stefan Küngs in 2019 in Yorkshire, and only the 15th for Switzerland as a whole. That makes national coach Marcello Albasini proud. “Now we have achieved twice in a row what had been tried in vain for 20 years,” he says, referring to the long thirst for medals.
The elite World Cup in Imola goes with the three medals (in addition to Hirschi he won in the time trial Marlen Reusser silver Y Stefan Küng bronze) as the second most successful in the history of Swiss cycling. Only in 1996 in Lugano they were even more successful with four medals.
A great celebration is not possible for Marc Hirschi. He flew to Belgium on Sunday night, followed by Flèche Wallonne on Wednesday and Liege – Bastogne – Liège on Sunday. “I’m also a bit fast,” he says. “But I’m on vacation in two weeks.”
