27 February 2016
IAM Cycling
THE EXPLANATION
“The collective performance of IAM Cycling is encouraging given the level of competition, the teams sports manager Rik Verbrugghe commented. With Oliver Naesen, we have a little gem. Dries Devenyns regained his pedal stroke from here two years ago. And Vegard Stake Laengen also showed us a glimpse of good things yet to come. When Martin Elmiger was hamstrung by that big crash with 30 kilometers to go, all he could do was quietly mourn in the chase group.
THE PHRASE
I was well placed on the Taaienberg at the decisive moment, Oliver Naesen said after finishing 13th at the race. In fact, I stayed within three to four lengths without the benefit of a pull. But when I tried my luck along with another Sky rider, we did not receive any cooperation from the others. Its a shame because I had sworn to myself I would finish top-10 in this, my second participation in Het Nieuwsblad. I wasnt missing too much, though, to be able to make my goal.
THE WEATHER
Under bright sunshine and moderate temperatures of 7 degrees Celsius, the wind, which was blowing consistently over 20km/h, proved to be the main enemy for the riders at the Het Nieuwsblad.
THE NUMBER
10 – This is the number of paved sections on top of the thirteen climbs that the riders faced, and which helped create the selection when the favorites, including the winner Greg Van Avermaet (BMC), accelerated to escape the main group.
THE INFO
Sondre Holst Enger, Roger Kluge, Matteo Pelucchi and Jonas Van Genechten will be on hand on Sunday to take part in the Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, the second classic to open the racing season in Belgium. They will be replacing Martin Elmiger, Reto Hollenstein, Aleksejs Saramotins, and Vegard Stake Laengen. Line-up:
Race Pictures BettiniPhoto©2016
