The Irish UCI Pro Continental team Aqua Blue Sport has taken its first victory with a heroic lone attack by their American rider Larry Warbasse on a mountainous stage 4 of the Tour de Suisse.
The day began in the historic city of Bern and travelled across a mostly flat first half of the race in the direction of the high mountain Villars-sur-Ollon.
Warbasse broke away after 15 kilometres with three other riders – Lars Boom (Astana), Nick van der Lijke (Roompot – Nederlandse Loterij) and Antoine Duchesne (Direct Energie) – and they were given some rope to gain a lead that reached to more than seven minutes.
As the final climb of 11.1 steep kilometres loomed in the distance Warbasse burst away from his breakaway companions. He cut a lone, determined figure as he battled against gravity and the peloton.
Within the final kilometre they whittled down the lead to just under one minute but the gifted climber realised the day was his and gave one last surge to the line. He crossed the line, arms raised in triumph and collapsed into the arms of the Aqua Blue Sport soigneur.
Delight filled the air as Warbasse was cheered by other finishing riders and the thousands of fans on the climb. It marked just the second WorldTour win this season by a UCI Pro Continental team after a stage win by Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis) in the Volta a Catalunya.
Warbasse wept as he said: “It’s my first victory in my career – it’s amazing I love this race, I love Switzerland. I was on IAM Cycling the last two years, and it’s one of the most beautiful countries and I have so many great memories here. Today I felt like it was my home race. I’ve never had so many people cheering for me, everyone was yelling my name. I’m really happy. As soon as I got in the breakaway, I knew – I told everyone yesterday, I worked really hard the whole last season – I always give 110 per cent, I’m just so happy it finally paid off.”
Team owner Rick Delaney was in the team car and said: “We started in January and the goal was to get race starts and then the objective was to perform as best we could in as many prestigious races as we could.
“Firstly to be invited to the Tour de Suisse was a great honour and as the week started we took the mountains jersey with Lasse. We have been in almost every break in every race we have started but to get one to stick on a day like today on a climb like today. For Larry it is an amazing moment to take his first win. His focus and determination and phenomenal work ethic – he had clear emotion today and it was magnificent to be there to share it with him.”
Sports Director Nicki Sorensen said: “This is a great moment for the team and for Larry. It is fantastic and a great, great relief to be able to say that we have our first victory. We have had a lot of challenges and a lot of tough times and some great times. This is our greatest moment – I just want to congratulate Larry and the whole Aqua Blue Sport team, riders and staff on this victory.”
BMC’s Damiano Caruso led a small group of GC contenders across the finish line and this has moved him into the race leader’s yellow jersey. Aqua Blue Sport’s Lasse Norman Hansen retained the blue Mountain classification jersey.
