Jonas Vingegaard was in tears after winning the eleventh stage of the Tour de France.
The victory was the Danish star cyclist's first after the serious crash in the Basque Country in April.
I'm just happy to be here, says the reigning champion.
It's over three months since Jonas Vingegaard, who won the Tour de France in both 2022 and 2023, crashed seriously during a stage of the Basque Country and broke both collarbone and ribs and punctured a lung.
On Wednesday, the 27-year-old took his first stage win of the year's tour when he won the eleventh stage between Évaux-les-Bains and Le Lioran. In the interview after the victory, his first since the crash, he cried thinking about the road back.
"Very emotional"
It's clearly very emotional for me. To come back from the crash. It means a lot after everything I've gone through the last few months. I would never have made it without my family, he says in Eurosport and had to interrupt himself several times due to tears.
I'm just happy to be here. It means so much to win a stage. Especially to win it for my family. They've supported me all the way.
The mountain stage over 211 kilometers was decided by a sprint between the stars Vingegaard and overall leader Tadej Pogacar. The Dane led into the finish, the Slovenian approached, but Vingegaard held on just enough and won the stage narrowly.
Pogacar in minute lead
I'm a bit surprised that I could take him in a sprint. Of course, it means so much to me. I'm so happy about the victory today. I would never have believed it three months ago.
Tadej Pogacar, who won the tour in 2020 and 2021 and is the favorite to win this year, still leads in the overall standings. One minute and six seconds ahead of Belgian Remco Evenepoel and another eight seconds ahead of Vingegaard, who gained some seconds with the sprint victory.
