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Deignan delighted with hard-fought victory over Kreuziger

Thursday, 17 September 2009
Alasdair Fotheringham
1 Comments

Philip Deignan, Daniel Martin Vuelta a Espana 2009, stage 16

When asked in a winner’s press conference how he felt about taking Ireland’s first Vuelta stage win in 21 years, Philip Deignan (Cervélo) admitted freely “it’s going to take a while to sink in!”

That’s logical, given Deignan’s stage 18 win came against a much better-known rival, Roman Kreuziger, the up-and-coming Liquigas rider who led his team in the Tour de France and who has already won the Tours of Romandie and Switzerland. Deignan’s biggest and only previous win was in the Tour de Doubs back in 2005.

But it was the Irishman who raised his arms in triumph in Avila after getting into the break of the day and then powering away with Kreuziger on the fast run-in towards the finish town.

“I saw he was the strongest in the break, and that’s why I went with him when he attacked after the last climb,” the 26-year-old Deignan said.

“In the team meeting this morning, we agreed I should go in the break because I was quite a way down overall and thought that the other teams wouldn’t mind.”

Four and a half hours later, Deignan found himself facing Kreuziger in a battle for the biggest prize of his career.

“I was really nervous,” Deignan said. “I’ve only been in that sort of situation a couple of times and I was waiting for him to attack.”

“But on the cobbled sections leading up into the town he didn’t make a move, which surprised me a lot. He couldn’t have had the legs.”

With Cervelo team leader and locally-born Carlos Sastre watching from the TV commentators' box, the 26-year-old said his victory was a great step forward in a career which has been dogged by illness and injury.

“It’ll do a lot for my self-confidence from now on,” Deignan said, “I feel proud of what I’ve done.”

Vuelta a Espana 2009: Latest news and features
Freire set for retirement in 2010
Unlucky Horner crashes out of Vuelta
Wegelius abandons the Vuelta
Vuelta a Espana 2009: Who will win?
Vinokourov back with Astana for the Vuelta
Britain and Ireland well represented in Vuelta
2009 Vuelta route favours climbers
Cycling Weekly's Rider Profiles: Index

Vuelta a Espana 2009: Stage reports
Stage 18: Deignan takes Ireland's first Vuelta stage win in 21 years
Stage 17: Roux takes solo win
Stage 16: Greipel storms to third win
Stage 15: Boom solos to win
Stage 14: Valverde suffers but strengthens lead
Stage 13: Unlucky Evans loses time on rivals
Stage 12: Hesjedal wins second stage for Garmin
Stage 11: Farrar takes first grand tour victory
Stage 10: Gerrans takes breakaway victory
Stage nine: Cesar wins as Valverde leads in la Vuelta
Stage eight: Cunego takes first mountain stage of 2009 Vuelta
Stage seven: Cancellara outpaces Millar in TT
Stage six: Bozic surprises sprint rivals to take win
Stage five: Greipel wins again and takes race lead
Stage four: Greipel wins after big crash wipes out bunch
Stage three: Henderson wins stage
Stage two: Ciolek takes first road stage, Hammond third
Stage one: Cancellara wins Vuelta opener

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September 18 19:48

Padraig (Stephen) Deignan

Hello Philip. I'm so proud of you. I even cried a wee tear yesterday. Your interviews were brilliant and
that whole country was coming to terms with a new name and texts were flying into the different sports programmes congratulating you. Des Scahill was very good to you and gave you great publicity. One got the impression listenig to him talking to you and about you that he had known you all his life. There are some smashing pictures on all the papers today...especially the one in the Times. I hope you can have a rest after Sunday and, as one paper says today, no matter what happens now you have come. I rang Letterkenny last night and they were really delighted with your victory.
Stephen

By the way one of my favourite saints in Teresa of Avila!!!!