Crashes and mechanicals cost our team a good result Sunday afternoon.
Back on the World Tour calendar for the first time in three years, Bemer Cyclassics marked Fabio Jakobsen’s first outing in the European Champion jersey he conquered one week ago in Munich. Joined by a strong cast, the Dutchman was hoping to have a chance to fight for victory at the end of the day, but was aware that the key would be the iconic Waseberg and the speed of the peloton on the double-digit gradients.
Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl controlled the race from the beginning, driving the pace behind the small three-man breakaway, and remained attentive when the first big attacks of the day came the second time up the Waseberg, despite several of our riders being involved in a big crash that by the time everything was done and dusted had cost them a lot of energy. Florian Sénéchal reacted to a move of the Tour de France green jersey that quickly turned into a five-rider leading group. From behind, several other riders bridged across, but things changed again on the last ascent, where another attack of Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) fragmented the move.
Sénéchal tried hard to reduce the advantage of those in the front but despite his best efforts the group managed to stay clear and Marco Haller (Bora-hansgrohe) powered to victory. The French Champion arrived with the peloton, just ten seconds behind the winner, as our team’s top finisher at the 25th edition of the German World Tour race.
“It just wasn’t our day. Before that big crash we lost Stijn due to a puncture, then in the pile-up Bert hit the ground and had to change bikes, with Fabio too having a mechanical that forced him to chase in order to come back. Florian tried something in the finale, but everything was very chaotic and difficult to control. On the bright side, all our guys came home safely, which is a very good thing considering everything”, said Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl sports director Tom Steels.
Photo credit: ©Bas Czerwinski / Getty Images
