The 21-year-old from Santa Rosa was close to his first World Tour top ten of the season.
The 28th edition of the BEMER Cyclassics was one of the shortest since the race’s inception, and despite the presence of the Waseberg three times on the 177.5km course and numerous attempts coming from those hoping to avoid a mass gallop at the end of the day, the one-day race once again came down to a bunch sprint.
Soudal Quick-Step had Tim Merlier – the most successful sprinter of the season in its ranks – but unfortunately the Belgian abandoned after being involved in a crash. In these conditions, the team regrouped and pulled for neo-pro Luke Lamperti, who was guided until the final kilometer of the German World Tour event by the experienced Bert Van Lerberghe.
The American, victorious this year on the opening stage of the Czech Tour, had a good position going into the last 500 meters, but was boxed in twice and couldn’t launch his sprint, concluding the race won by Olav Kooij (Visma-Lease a Bike) in 13th place – an encouraging result that came just two weeks after he finished the Deutschland Tour a strong fourth.
Photo credit: ©Dario Belingheri / Getty Images
Yves Lampaert 