Deceuninck – Quick-Step controlled the race from the very outset and made it an impressive 1-2 in Esbjerg.
Kasper Asgreen, Mikkel Honoré and Michael Mørkøv rode brilliantly on Sunday afternoon, leaving their mark on a fast and intense race which got split to pieces with three laps to go. Making just his second appearance since concluding his maiden Grand Tour, the Giro d’Italia, neo-pro Mikkel was responsible for keeping the four escapees in check and laying the groundwork in the early part of the race that took the riders from Ribe to Esbjerg, where they entered on a ten-lap circuit.
There was plenty of action there, and the Deceuninck – Quick-Step guys made sure of covering the moves and shutting down attacks before they became dangerous. The race properly blazed into life with more than 30 kilometers to go, when both Kasper and Michael made the selection as part of a strong eight-man group who instantly opened a 20-second buffer over the chasers.
On the closing lap, the front group thinned out under the impetus of the Deceuninck – Quick-Step riders, who then ignited another move which concluded with Mørkøv roaring over the line arms aloft for his second consecutive national title and Asgreen coming home right behind him in second position, a result which the young Dane added to the time trial title win that landed in his palmares just three days prior.
“There are no words to describe how happy I am that I became Danish Champion for the second consecutive year and for the third time in my career. We faced some really stiff competition, but we took our chances and did a tremendous job the entire day. Mikkel rode himself inside out to keep everything together, then Kasper stepped in and closed the late attacks before providing a perfect lead-out”, Michael said, beaming with happiness, at the finish. “Keeping the jersey in the team makes us very proud, and for me personally, it’s a dream come true and something very emotional that I get to show it in the Tour de France. It will be great for Denmark to have both its national champion there this summer!”
Photo credit: ©Ulrik Møberg/ CyclingPhoto.dk
