A race that is favoured and loved by many cycling fans around the world, Team DSM were back in action at Tro Bro Léon today and it’s numerous off-road and gravel sections combined with punchy climbs which make for a hard day in the saddle.
It was a steady start to proceedings with a three rider breakaway escaping early on and building up an advantage that reached a maximum of around seven minutes. Taking control of things in the peloton, Team DSM were one of the teams to set the early pace and as the race entered the closing 60 kilometres the gap was down to just two minutes. The high tempo remained and the bunch eventually split to pieces over the demanding course with Nils Eekhoff and Pavel Bittner making it into an elite group of around 30 riders at the front. Working well together, the duo covered the attacks and were always present in any dangerous looking move. Unfortunately, Bittner would crash out of the group with around 20 kilometres to go.
Eekhoff defended himself well and even went on the attack himself over one of the sections, but it was clear it would come down to the last lap and he returned to the bunch. Biding his time, he followed a strong move on one of the penultimate sections and the elastic snapped, with the group of seven going on to fight it out for the win. Pushing all the way to the line Eekhoff gave everything on the slight uphill drag, taking a fine third place come the finish.
