Aleix Espargaro fared relatively well on his first day as a professional cyclist e not a rider with American Lidl-Trek at the Tour of Austria. The current Honda HRC test rider finished the 167.8-kilometer first stage, from and to Steyr, in 85th position: 13'23" behind winner Felix Grossschartner of the UAE team.
Unlike the sport that has anointed him, and that's mostly individual, the Iberian had to, this time play a team game, or rather, was a wingman for captain Lennard Kamna, who then finished 6th.
At the end of the challenge, he was really excited, but also tired and tense from having to handle even the classic nervousness that cyclists experience when facing a major Classic or a stage race.
"First day of the list. I survived! So much tension and speed, but I had a great time with this magnificent team," he briefly stated on social media. Since last winter's announcement, the former Aprilia rider had only competed in secondary dirt races to prepare for his debut among the big boys.