Our Development program got their season underway today at the notoriously testing Le Samyn, known for its tricky cobbled sections and exposed roads. Upon leaving the neutralised zone the race was on and the pace didn’t let up for more than the opening hour of racing, with attack after attack flying from the bunch. The team rode strongly as a unit, rotating as a unit to make it into the moves, before Enzo Leijnse made it into the five-rider group that went clear after over 65 kilometres of action.
Leijnse’s group worked well together and extended their gap to almost 3 minutes and 30 seconds, but the peloton ensured that it didn’t grow out any further. As the kilometres and cobbled sections ticked by, Leijnse continued to impress out front as the breakaway fell to only four riders, as the impetus started to increase.
With around 40 kilometres to go a large group attacked from the peloton, joining Leijnse and his erstwhile breakaway companions. Leijnse dug in deep to stay with the group for as long as possible but after a hard day out on the attack, he had to let go of the wheels with around 30 kilometres to go. Behind, the rest of the team did a good job to position Casper van Uden and Marius Mayrhofer to the fore of the peloton but unfortunately the duo just didn’t have the legs to follow the stinging pace over the final cobble section as the new group out front formed, which ultimately fought it out for the race win.
Pos. | Rider | Team | Time | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | MERLIER Tim | Alpecin-Fenix | 4:34:29 | 125 |
2 | TILLER Rasmus | Uno-X Pro Cycling Team | ,, | 85 |
3 | PASQUALON Andrea | Intermarché - Wanty - Gobert Matériaux | ,, | 70 |