‘I deserve this’ – Emotions run high as Michael Valgren claims career-first Grand Tour stage victory at the Giro d’Italia

It’s hard to believe that Michael Valgren had never won a Grand Tour stage during his nearly two-decade career in professional cycling, but that all changed when he played the odds in a decisive breakaway and sprinted to the stage 17 victory at the Giro d’Italia in Andalo.

Sitting on the roadway just past the finish line, surrounded by journalists, photographers and television cameras, the EF Education-EasyPost rider appeared shocked by his performance as he caught his breath and took in water from his team’s soigneur – he almost had no words.