Mason Hollyman finished off an impeccable team performance on stage 2 of Tour de Taiwan as he won the stage and moved into the yellow jersey as the new leader of the race.
Amidst the cheerful and lively atmosphere of the pre-race team presentation, the announcer queried the team about their chosen word for the day.
“Amazing!” exclaimed Itamar Einhorn of Israel, proudly wearing his yellow jersey. This sentiment quickly spread, as the entire team joined in with an enthusiastic chorus of “Amazing!”
Three hours later, despite the drizzle that failed to dampen spirits, the IPT team showcased a stellar performance at the Tour de Taiwan. It was a display of teamwork that could only be described as “Team Amazing”, dominating the competition and exemplifying flawless collaboration.
The day ended in a second consecutive victory, this time awarded to the ever-smiling 23-year-old Briton who clinched the win and the yellow jersey, leading by five seconds after a strategic late attack on the final climb.
It’s worth noting that all his teammates had strong performances: Joe Blackmore finished third and Daniel Lima fifth, either of whom could have easily claimed victory.
Hollyman, celebrating his third win with IPT after progressing from our Academy, was full of praise:
“Everyone was just on fire,” he said. “Viggo Moore led the charge all day, maintaining his position until the end. He was undoubtedly the man of the match today. Joe dominated the last climb with constant attacks, Daniel Lima ensured our prominent placement, and Itamar held strong until the end. The team couldn’t have asked for more.”
The Brit, seizing the opportunity in the last climb with instinctive intelligence, added: “I studied last year’s race and observed those kicks in the end. So, when Joe’s group appeared exhausted, I chose to attack in the last 20 seconds of the climb, taking advantage of the technical descent. Gaining a two-second lead there seemed feasible for a win, especially if I could lead into the last corner.”
This strategic move not only secured his victory but also placed him five seconds ahead in the General Classification (over second place Ivan Cobo from Equipo Kern Pharma) with his teammate Blackmore trailing by 14 seconds.
With three stages remaining, IPT is well-positioned to contest the General Classification win, assuming of course that they will be able to replicate today’s exemplary strategy.
Looking ahead, the new race leader shared: “It’s reassuring to have Joe in such great form, giving us multiple strategies to play. Managing a race with five-rider teams is challenging, but having two teammates contenders capable of responding to attacks and securing wins is a significant advantage.”
It is also worth noting that the team is holding all the individual jerseys including the King of the Mountains (also Hollyman) and Itamar Einhorn with the sprinter’s jersey.
