Juanpe López Wins Tour of the Alps for First Professional Stage Race Victory

Juanpe López, a 26-year-old Andorran resident, has won the 2024 Tour of the Alps cycling race in Italy, securing his first overall victory in a stage race as a professional cyclist. López, riding for the Lidl-Trek team, finished ahead of Australian Ben O'Connor of Decathlon AG2R-La Mondiale and Antonio Tiberi of Bahrain Victorious.

The final stage was a 118.6 km route starting and finishing in Levico Terme, Trentino, featuring the challenging Palù del Fersina climb that was repeated twice. López held a narrow lead over his main rivals, including O'Connor, Tiberi, Wout Poels, Romain Bardet, and Aurélien Paret-Peintre, going into the final stage. The stage included an undulating loop, the Palù del Fersina climb, and the final Valico di Tenna climb, offering opportunities for the other riders to upset López's lead.

However, López was able to defend his position and claim his first overall victory in a professional stage race. After a dramatic final two stages filled with attacks, López battled bravely to mark moves and follow his rivals. No rider could break away in the final 10km, and it came down to a bunch sprint, which was won by Aurélien Paret-Peintre, giving his Decathlon AG2R-La Mondiale team their 10th win of the season.

Why this matters: López's victory in the Tour of the Alps represents a significant achievement for the young Andorran cyclist, showcasing his potential as a skilled climber in the world of professional cycling. This win could be a foundation for López as he aims to compete in and potentially win even bigger races in the future.

López was understandably excited and emotional about his victory, stating that it was the biggest of his career and that his team had done a wonderful job from start to finish. The Lidl-Trek star rider was thinking about his family, friends, and team manager Luca Guercilena, who was not having a good time, as he celebrated his hard-earned triumph. "The team showed its full value and I am a stronger rider compared to 2022 when I won the pink jersey," López said, describing the Tour of the Alps as a race he will remember forever, praising the fantastic territories and beautiful landscapes.

Key Takeaways

• Juanpe López, a 26-year-old Andorran, won the 2024 Tour of the Alps cycling race.
• López, riding for Lidl-Trek, finished ahead of Australians Ben O'Connor and Antonio Tiberi.
• The final stage featured the challenging Palù del Fersina climb, but López defended his lead.
• This victory represents a significant achievement for López, showcasing his potential as a climber.
• López was emotional about the win, his biggest career triumph, and praised his team's efforts.