Etixx - Quick-Step stagiaire Fernando Gaviria wasted no time earning his first victory wearing the team colors. In just his second race participation with the team, Gaviria won the 178km 2nd Stage of Czech Cycling Tour, out of a reduced group formed originally by tough crosswinds with 50km left to race on Friday.
There was originally a breakaway of four riders, which Etixx - Quick-Step controlled as race leaders after the Stage 1 TTT victory. Etixx - Quick-Step was also at the start with five riders in all the classification leader jerseys. Eventually the breakaway was caught, but as the parcours went flat, the winds became a factor. The peloton splintered due to a full gas tempo, with a 22-rider echelon getting a significant advantage. Kilometer-by-kilometer the group reduced to 15, and then to 12 leaders. Four riders of Etixx - Quick-Step were present: Gaviria, Zdenek Stybar, Pieter Serry, and Petr Vakoc. This lead group decided the stage, with Gaviria out sprinting his fellow break mates.
"I'm over the moon with this victory, as it was not an easy one for me with the crosswinds," Gaviria said. "The team was super strong. They stayed with me the whole time and made sure I was there in the front group. In the end Stybar starting pulling for me at 600 meters to go, leading me into the sprint and I won. For me, this is a great emotion. It's the first time I raised my arms at the finish with this Etixx - Quick-Step jersey. It's a dream come true for me. A lot of things changed since I raced Tour de San Luis in January. But it is clear that I love what I do and I love this team. I have a lot to learn from all the guys here. They are really professional. I am sure day-by-day I can always learn something new. I will continue to do so in the next days, and also at Tour of Britain. I'd like to dedicate this win to my girlfriend and my family, especially my father. We dreamed of me coming to Europe and winning a race. I did it here in the Czech Republic. But for me, it's also a great satisfaction to pay off all the hard work we've been doing until now. It was all more than worth it."