At Startup Nation Find the Right Track | Israel today

Israel Startup Nation celebrates with rider Mads Schmidt who won the sixth section of the Italian Tirano-Adriatico race • Sheri Friedham, who experienced her first victory as a coach on the team: "It's a milestone for me, every achievement causes immense pride" •

• Mads Schmidt.

  Won the sixth round of the Italian Tirano-Adriatic race

  Photo: 

  AFP

Israel Startup Nation raised gear today (Monday) and accordingly also the threshold of expectations for the coming season, after Madas Schmidt, the team's Danish rider, won the sixth section of the Italian Tirano-Adriatic race.

Schmidt's victory - wearing the green shirt reserved for the outstanding climber - began a few miles after the jump, so he set out for an escape that lasted 146 km (3: 42.09 hours). The finish section was dramatic and proved some essential things for Startup Nation - it has riders Who are able to win close sections on the ups and downs even without Chris Fromm and she has a modest Israeli who showed impressive ability yesterday - Guy Niv.

The Israeli remained close to Schmidt's wheel and led him to the winning position, a day after the Danish rider tried to win the fifth section in a quick escape to Pluto.

On Tuesday he was caught five miles to the finish, yesterday it worked for him like clockwork even in front of a giant rider such as Julian Alaflip.

"I fought for it," Mads said at the end, "when I heard on the headset that the platoon had given up on the chase after me I told myself I must take advantage of the escape this time. 

Along with Mads, an equally exciting moment was recorded today.

Sherry Friedham, the team's sporting director, did not try (and rightly so) to hide her joy when she heard the winner's name in the race car.

"I admit it was a little embarrassing to see my reaction in the car, but I was really excited," Mads said. "We are a group of emotional people whose every victory, every achievement makes us immensely proud. For me a woman's first victory in such a role is a milestone. I hope to reach a moment. That I will not be judged as a woman except in relation to my professional level. "

Tomorrow (14:30, Eurosport) will be the seventh and final section against the clock for a distance of 10 km.

On the menu: the Pyrenees

Despite the great fitness that Guy Niv is in, the Sun group seems to be approaching a decision regarding the identity of the Israeli rider who will participate in the Tour de France.

Although the lineup is still far from closed, it seems that the chances of Omar Goldstein, the Israeli champion and the one who finished last season wonderfully, will be the one to work for Fromm, who is looking for his fifth win in the column.

Goldstein and Fromm have already met this season in the flat Emirates column, which does not represent the abilities of the super rider who joined the Sun this year, but the test they will take from next Saturday - Valletta Catalonia - will already more clearly indicate how much Goldstein is ready for the French column.