Header photo credit: DirectVelo

Following on from the opening day’s success but yesterday’s bad luck and disappointment, Development Team DSM bounced back this morning in stage three A’s 14 kilometre long time trial. With Joris Reinderink a non-starter, it meant the team were down to a fighting duo with Moritz Kärsten and Lorenzo Milesi rolling down the start ramp in Wodecq.

Faced with a rolling route that included 130 metres of elevation gain over the 14 kilometres and a good mix of technical corners and power sections; it would be a proper test for the bunch. Kärsten was the first of the Development Team DSM duo down the ramp, putting in a solid effort against the clock after all of his hard work yesterday. Just five minutes later Milesi would get his time trial underway, bursting out of the starting gates. Riding the pacing plan to perfection, Milesi stormed around the course and crossed the line in a time of 17 minutes and 30 seconds; a time which was 24 seconds better than the closest finisher at that moment.

A nervous 50 minute wait followed for Milesi in the hot seat as one-by-one riders tried and failed to beat his time. Some came close, but no one was able to topple the Development Team DSM rider and with all the other competitors across the line, Milesi was crowned victorious; taking his and the team’s second win of the race.

This afternoon sees the bunch take on a short but punchy 95 kilometres in the hills, where the guys will gave it their all one last time.

Photo Credit: Patrick Brunt:

A smiling Milesi said: “I think it was really good time trial. I went all-out in the first part and then kept it up to the finish. We had a good pacing plan and I managed to push the same power over the whole course and even though it wasn’t my best average power for that time, it was still enough to win which was great. Moritz gave me some good motivation earlier in the warm-up which was nice and I’d like to thank him and all the staff in helping to get the win. We’ll try again this afternoon.”

Team DSM coach Boris Zimine added: “It was a really nice reaction from Lorenzo because yesterday we lost everything for the GC. Immediately after the stage he was of course disappointed but he kept it in his mind well that we still had two chances to win stages today, and he kept fighting. There aren’t a lot of TT’s during the season so it is good to have a nice result in the TT here. Before the start we knew we had a chance of a podium because Lorenzo was really good in the discipline as a junior. He did a really good and clean TT with no mistakes, was really strong and that gives him and all the team a lot of confidence that we’re working in a good way.”