American rider Kevin Vermaerke finished second in the opening stage of the Tour of Austria yesterday, giving the UAE Team Emirates–XRG a strong start to the race after a standout performance that kept him among the lead group all the way to the finish line.
Vermaerke rode strongly from the start of the stage and managed to stay among the elite riders who contested the sprint finish in the city of Gamlitz, crossing the line 11 seconds behind stage winner, Austrian Gregor Mühlberger, to take second place in the general classification.
The stage saw a large breakaway group form from the opening kilometres out of Graz, forcing UAE Team Emirates–XRG, in cooperation with INEOS, to put in considerable effort to reel in the gap and control the race, setting up an opportunity for both teams' leaders to contest the stage win.
As the race entered the final 30 kilometres, the pace intensified and the peloton splintered. The decisive attack came from Mühlberger with around 11 kilometres remaining, as he capitalised on the hesitation of his pursuers to hold his advantage all the way to the line and claim victory on home soil.
Vermaerke continued to chase the leader until the final metres, finishing the stage in second place in a performance marked by consistency and fighting spirit, underscoring his readiness to compete in the stages ahead, with UAE Team Emirates–XRG having multiple opportunities to claim victories throughout the tour.
Vermaerke said: "It was a strong opening stage with a high tempo, and we knew the final 30 kilometres would be decisive. Our teammates, working together with INEOS, did a big job bringing back the breakaway group at a time when no other team contributed to the chase."
He added: "In the final section I focused on following moves and staying in the right position, but I hesitated a little when Mühlberger launched his attack, and perhaps I should have gone with him. Even so, I was able to secure second place and step onto the podium on the very first day, and we look forward to the coming days to fight for a stage win and an even better result."