Is it worth it? To put my body through so much pain? To pursue what I love so far away from loved ones? Was it worth it to put them through so much worry every time an injury happened? Personally, it was worth it, most of it. I wish I could stop them worrying, but they got worried when I returned home half an hour later!
It was easy enough convincing myself to go on. It was easy enough to push myself to get back on the bike and out on the road after this latest injury. It wasn't easy to convince the folks. I guess I couldn't blame them. However, I needed them to understand. Come back home, they said. You've had your moment, they said. It's not too late to change careers, they said. There was no way, I said to myself!
After a lot (and I mean a LOT) of convincing, through most of my recovery in August, I finally got my folks on to my side. There was no way I was giving up this easily. Yes, this was hard. Yes, this was unlike any pain I'd ever felt before. But I couldn't think of doing anything else with my life anymore. I had to make one just one promise - to go back home for the holidays after the season ended. I agreed. I could use some home made food. I do miss that sometimes...
When I had the injury last year, it was a question of conditioning the injured leg to get back into shape for cycling. It involved a lot of exercise to get the form back.
With this latest injury, the recovery was completely different. An injury to the head does not physically affect the ability to ride a bike. It does however make your mind play a lot of tricks on you! Getting back on the bike was easy. Convincing myself to go downhill at 80 km/hr was not!
A lot of mental conditioning and self motivation later, I was finally back to riding and training full time in the second half of September. If there's something I've realised over the two injuries, it's that out on the road, on the bike, one is pretty much on his own. No matter how much 'support' your team provides you, in terms of pacing you or protecting you from the wind, you are the one who is finally in charge. No one can protect you at the climax.
Like Ripley said in his last correspondence, two injuries have made me realise that I'm stronger mentally that I myself used to think...
Back where I belong. I was itching to get back in action before the end of the season. The doctors gave the all clear for the final race on my schedule, the Chrono des Nations.
Chrono des Nations
You know sometimes you get so excited you bang into the starting enclosure when putting your bike up there. Ah well, it happens! I'm still young. Pardon me
The race went very well. I even ended up going past the Team Sky rider who started 2 minutes ahead of me! As I crossed the line, the clock showed 10th place. I ended up 17th, a bit over 2 minutes behind winner Taylor Phinney. A very satisfying return indeed.
1
Taylor Phinney
BMC Racing Team
1h05'32
2
Alex Dowsett
Movistar Team
+ 24
3
Yoann Paillot
Team Marseille 13 KTM
+ 1'00
4
Bob Jungels
Team Sky
+ 1'15
5
Michael Hepburn
Team Sky
+ 1'17
6
Salvatore Puccio
Team Sky
+ 1'28
7
Arnaud Gérard
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
+ 1'36
8
Rick Flens
IAM Cycling
+ 1'47
9
Jonathan Castroviejo
Movistar Team
+ 1'48
10
Joey Rosskopf
BMC Racing Team
+ 1'57
Spoiler
11
Javier Moreno
Movistar Team
+ 1'58
12
Stefan Küng
BMC Racing Team
+ 2'05
13
Ignatas Konovalovas
Team Marseille 13 KTM
+ 2'17
14
Michael Schär
Trek Factory Racing
+ 2'29
15
Jérémy Roy
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
16
Sjors Roosen
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
+ 2'30
17
Abhishek Sinha
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
+ 2'35
18
Stephen Cummings
Movistar Team
+ 2'36
19
Jasha Sütterlin
Movistar Team
s.t.
20
Johan Le Bon
Trek Factory Racing
+ 2'37
21
Matthias Brändle
IAM Cycling
+ 2'42
22
Anthony Delaplace
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
+ 2'44
23
Alex Rasmussen
Leopard Development Team
+ 2'45
24
Damien Gaudin
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 2'51
25
Omar Bertazzo
IAM Cycling
+ 3'13
26
Thomas Voeckler
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 3'24
27
Tom Stamsnijder
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
s.t.
28
Laurent Didier
Trek Factory Racing
+ 3'30
29
Romain Matheou
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
+ 3'33
30
Pierre-Henri Lecuisinier
Equipe Cycliste de l'Armée de Terre
+ 3'35
31
Gert Joeaar
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
+ 3'37
32
Hugo Houle
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 3'38
33
Jonathan Dufrasne
Wallonie - Bruxelles
+ 3'41
34
Fabien Canal
Equipe Cycliste de l'Armée de Terre
+ 3'45
35
Florian Senechal
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
+ 3'46
36
Rick Zabel
IAM Cycling
+ 3'47
37
Marc De Maar
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
+ 3'53
38
Peter Kennaugh
Team Sky
+ 3'54
39
Marcus Burghardt
Bora - Argon 18
+ 3'55
40
Jimmy Engoulvent
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
+ 3'57
41
Julien Van Den Brande
Veranclassic - Ekoi
+ 4'00
42
Michel Kreder
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 4'03
43
Benjamin Giraud
Team Marseille 13 KTM
+ 4'06
44
Marc Soler
Movistar Team
+ 4'10
45
Arnaud Courteille
BMC Racing Team
+ 4'11
46
Nans Peters
Equipe Cycliste de l'Armée de Terre
+ 4'12
47
Shane Archbold
Bora - Argon 18
s.t.
48
Frederik Frison
Veranclassic - Ekoi
+ 4'13
49
Julien El Fares
Team Marseille 13 KTM
+ 4'15
50
Gaël Malacarne
Team Europcar
+ 4'19
51
Alexandre Pichot
Team Europcar
s.t.
52
Kevin Reza
FDJ
+ 4'21
53
Riccardo Donato
Leopard Development Team
+ 4'22
54
Patrick Olesen
Leopard Development Team
+ 4'24
55
Alessandro Ballan
Team Sky
+ 4'26
56
Stéphane Poulhiès
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
+ 4'28
57
Guillaume Thevenot
Team Europcar
+ 4'30
58
Olivier Le Gac
FDJ
s.t.
59
Christophe Laborie
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
+ 4'32
60
Romain Guyot
Team Europcar
+ 4'33
61
Julius van den Berg
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
s.t.
62
Marcel Sieberg
IAM Cycling
+ 4'35
63
Brian Van Goethem
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
+ 4'38
64
Kevin Feiereisen
Leopard Development Team
+ 4'39
65
Adrien Petit
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
+ 4'41
66
Tom Dernies
Wallonie - Bruxelles
+ 4'42
67
Lorenzo Manzin
FDJ
s.t.
68
Alex Kirsch
Leopard Development Team
+ 4'45
69
Tony Hurel
Team Europcar
s.t.
70
Alessio Lanzano
Leopard Development Team
+ 4'46
71
Robbe Casier
Veranclassic - Ekoi
s.t.
72
Kevyn Ista
BMC Racing Team
+ 4'47
73
Wesley Kreder
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
+ 4'48
74
Mathieu Perget
Auber 93
+ 4'49
75
Michael Schwarzmann
Bora - Argon 18
+ 4'50
76
Ben Swift
Team Sky
+ 4'51
77
Sébastien Minard
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 4'52
78
Marc Sarreau
FDJ
+ 4'53
79
Daniel McLay
Roubaix Lille Métropole
+ 4'54
80
Robert Wagner
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 4'55
81
Heinrich Haussler
Trek Factory Racing
+ 4'56
82
Arman Kamyshev
Veranclassic - Ekoi
+ 4'58
83
Nicklas Bøje Pedersen
Leopard Development Team
+ 5'01
84
Rüdiger Selig
Bora - Argon 18
+ 5'02
85
Jasper Stuyven
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
86
Dennis Vanendert
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
87
Rudy Barbier
Roubaix Lille Métropole
s.t.
88
Thomas Vaubourzeix
Veranclassic - Ekoi
+ 5'03
89
Jordan Levasseur
Equipe Cycliste de l'Armée de Terre
s.t.
90
Boris Vallée
Trek Factory Racing
+ 5'04
91
David Menut
Auber 93
s.t.
92
Tom Van Asbroeck
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
s.t.
93
Evaldas Siskevicius
Team Marseille 13 KTM
+ 5'05
94
Zakkari Dempster
Bora - Argon 18
s.t.
95
Egoitz García
Movistar Team
+ 5'06
96
Anthony Maldonado
Auber 93
+ 5'07
97
Laurent Pichon
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
+ 5'09
98
Bert-Jan Lindeman
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 5'11
99
Yannick Martinez
IAM Cycling
+ 5'14
100
Antoine Demoitie
Wallonie - Bruxelles
s.t.
101
Edwig Cammaerts
Veranclassic - Ekoi
s.t.
102
James Shaw
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
+ 5'16
103
Samuel Dumoulin
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 5'18
104
Boy Van Poppel
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 5'20
105
Johannes Fröhlinger
Bora - Argon 18
s.t.
106
Rudy Kowalski
Roubaix Lille Métropole
+ 5'22
107
Jean-Albert Carnevali
Wallonie - Bruxelles
+ 5'23
108
Pierre-Luc Périchon
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
+ 5'24
109
Charlie Arimont
Wallonie - Bruxelles
s.t.
110
Maarten Wynants
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 5'25
111
Angelo Tulik
FDJ
s.t.
112
Aurélien Passeron
Auber 93
+ 5'26
113
Antoine Warnier
Wallonie - Bruxelles
+ 5'28
114
Bryan Alaphilippe
Equipe Cycliste de l'Armée de Terre
+ 5'29
115
Luis Ángel Maté
Team Sky
s.t.
116
Théo Vimpere
Auber 93
+ 5'30
117
Sébastien Harbonnier
Equipe Cycliste de l'Armée de Terre
+ 5'31
118
Alexander Krieger
Leopard Development Team
+ 5'32
119
Jesse Kerrison
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
120
Romain Combaud
Team Europcar
s.t.
121
Grégory Habeaux
Wallonie - Bruxelles
+ 5'35
122
Daniel Schorn
Bora - Argon 18
+ 5'37
123
Siarhei Papok
Wallonie - Bruxelles
+ 5'39
124
Martial Roman
Veranclassic - Ekoi
s.t.
125
Melvin Rulliere
Veranclassic - Ekoi
+ 5'45
126
Quentin Jauregui
Ag2r La Mondiale
s.t.
127
Michaël Baer
IAM Cycling
+ 5'50
128
Francesco Lasca
Bora - Argon 18
+ 5'51
129
Anthony Turgis
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
+ 5'57
130
Andrew Fenn
Team Sky
s.t.
131
Vincent Jérôme
IAM Cycling
+ 6'01
132
Andreas Schillinger
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 6'02
133
Morgan Lamoisson
Team Europcar
+ 6'04
134
Luke Keough
Trek Factory Racing
+ 6'09
135
Mattia Viel
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 6'11
136
Victor Tournieroux
Team Marseille 13 KTM
+ 6'16
137
Lloyd Mondory
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 6'19
138
Yohann Gène
FDJ
s.t.
139
Antonio Dubois
Auber 93
s.t.
140
Jackson Rodríguez
Roubaix Lille Métropole
+ 6'23
141
Maxime Cam
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
142
Steven Tronet
Auber 93
+ 6'25
143
Kenneth Hansen
Roubaix Lille Métropole
s.t.
144
Jimmy Raibaud
Equipe Cycliste de l'Armée de Terre
+ 6'26
145
Mauro Abel Richeze
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
+ 6'28
146
Sjoerd Van Ginneken
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
s.t.
147
Grégory Rast
Trek Factory Racing
+ 6'46
148
Justin Jules
FDJ
+ 6'49
149
Benoit Drujon
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
+ 6'50
150
Flavien Dassonville
Team Europcar
+ 7'06
151
Reinier Honig
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
+ 7'10
152
Carl Jermail
Auber 93
+ 7'17
153
Vicente Reynès
Movistar Team
+ 7'38
154
Alexis Bodiot
Roubaix Lille Métropole
+ 7'57
155
Guillaume Blot
Equipe Cycliste de l'Armée de Terre
s.t.
156
Sébastien Chavanel
FDJ
+ 8'14
Me going past Team Sky's Alessandro Ballan on the road
Making the step up to the PCT this year was a challenge, but one I enjoyed facing. The racing became more competitive, as well as more tactical. The difference in the way Roompot operates to how Leopard does was clear in the very first days itself.
There were more firsts this year, with a first podium in the U25s, also one in the KOM standings and finally winning the U25 classification and getting on the podium in Sibiu. That race is one I will always hold very dear to me. The injury happened at a time when I was in top form. It hampered the latter part of my season almost entirely, but unlike last year I was able to get back on the road before the racing this year. I am particularly proud of my performance in Chrono des Nations. All in all, a satisfying year in terms of progress. I did convince myself that I do belong here.
A new year is here. I was lucky enough to get to spend it with family and friends this time. It was a long stay at home for me, but the cycling continued as I strove to keep myself fit through the holiday cheer. Along with the joys of home-coming, staying in shape was equally important.
I set off back to Amsterdam on the second day of the new year. On the same day, Roompot held their press conference presenting their new look team to the world. Our sponsors have definitely become more open to the idea of non-Dutch nationality riders in the team!
Luck! Was it luck that I needed? Or was it something else...
The team management were kind enough to allow me to go home for more than 2 months at the end of last year. I returned back in good spirits, feeling refreshed and ready to get back together with my teammates, old and new, for the pre-season training camps. The first couple of days were fine. I was enjoying the camaraderie and the jovial atmosphere in the camp. However, as more time passed, I felt a little coldness among my teammates. It started with a couple and seemed to spread to a dozen quite soon!
All through the winter, I had been fighting my own internal demons. Two serious injuries in two years were starting to have a psychological effect. I have been a professional for two whole years now, but without a win to show for it. Although the trip home was meant to be refreshing, I was plagued by thoughts of whether I truly belonged at this level. I did get on the podium in Romania last year, but it was more an effort in consistency than outstanding brilliance. And things would just get tougher the more I stayed in pro cycling.
Having convinced myself that my thoughts was just me being paranoid, it was difficult getting such vibes from the same teammates that I rode with the past season. It was not as if they were being rude. It was just that the bond seemed to have vanished. There was one big silver lining among the new faces though. I knew Alex Krieger well from my Leopard days, and was glad to be able to ride and chat with him. Being ever the observer and the good listener, I picked up the fact that other riders were of the opinion that the team management were giving me too long a leash in terms of training and holidays, just because I had been injured. I knew this was not true but I didn't want to keep explaining myself to everyone. I let it slide for the time being. Making my riding speak for me would be the best answer...
I think I'll take that luck you wished Tamijo. This could be a make or beak season for me!
Spoiler
This is a work of my imagination. No offence meant to any real cyclist.
Just one race in January, that too right at the end of the month. I was off to sunny Spain once again to start my season at Mallorca.
Vuelta a Mallorca
Lilian Calmejane was assigned as the leader of the team. I was given a free role. I particularly enjoyed having free reins to do as I pleased at the start of the season.
Stage 1 was purely for the sprinters. I sat in the pack all day and rode home comfortably. Fernando Gaviria won a hotly contested sprint ahead of Michael Matthews.
Stage 2 was more of the same as the sprinters battled to reign supreme once again. Michael Matthews went one better this time, claiming the stage win and the Points jersey on this stage.
Stage 3 went wrong for me even before the halfway stage. I was dropped from the peloton and spent the entire day trying to get back time. I ended up losing 12 minutes to stage winner Tony Gallopin. Calmejane grabbed a top 20 spot for us.
I joined the 11 man break on Stage 4. This stage had a lot of climbs and many KOM points on offer. The break went down to 9 riders after the second climb. I myself got dropped after the fifth climb and was caught by the peloton with 40 km to go. Tired and not quite up to speed yet in terms of race fitness, I was duly dropped by the peloton too. I lost more time while the stage was decided in a sprint among a very select group of leaders. Valerio Conti triumphed going uphill, preventing Gaviria from claiming another stage win.
General Classification
1
Tony Gallopin
Lotto Soudal
13h38'46
2
Daniel Martin
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 49
3
Sebastian Henao
IAM Cycling
+ 51
4
Maciej Paterski
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 1'16
5
Tom Slagter
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 1'18
6
Fabio Aru
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
7
Beñat Intxausti
Tinkoff-Saxo
s.t.
8
Thomas De Gendt
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
9
Edoardo Zardini
Team Cannondale - Garmin
s.t.
10
François Bidard
Burgos - BH
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Davide Villella
Movistar Team
s.t.
12
Michael Matthews
Lotto Soudal
+ 2'49
13
Vincenzo Nibali
Astana Pro Team
+ 3'07
14
Jonathan Castroviejo
Team Katusha
+ 3'11
15
Rafael Valls
Movistar Team
+ 4'24
16
Valerio Conti
Team Katusha
+ 4'55
17
Fabio Felline
Lotto Soudal
+ 5'00
18
Gorka Izagirre
Tinkoff-Saxo
s.t.
19
Peter Kennaugh
Team Sky
s.t.
20
Lilian Calmejane
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
s.t.
21
Tiago Machado
TEAM Pirelli
+ 7'28
22
Benjamin Brkic
TEAM Pirelli
s.t.
23
Lorenzo Rota
Astana Pro Team
+ 7'49
24
Bart De Clercq
Team Katusha
+ 8'29
25
Cameron Meyer
Team Sky
+ 8'40
26
Rudy Molard
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
+ 9'17
27
Paweł Poljański
TEAM Pirelli
+ 9'42
28
Marcos García
Movistar Team
+ 10'26
29
Sam Oomen
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 10'31
30
Fernando Gaviria
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 12'35
31
Lars Boom
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 12'48
32
Ramunas Navardauskas
Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec
+ 13'22
33
Giacomo Nizzolo
Movistar Team
+ 13'41
34
Arthur Vichot
Team Europcar
+ 14'00
35
Sérgio Pardilla
Astana Pro Team
+ 14'08
36
Luis Ángel Maté
Team Sky
+ 14'37
37
Matteo Trentin
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 14'43
38
Daniel Moreno
Team Sky
s.t.
39
José Joaquín Rojas
Team Katusha
s.t.
40
Nelson Oliveira
Tinkoff-Saxo
s.t.
41
Beñat Txoperena
Team Katusha
+ 15'04
42
Jürgen Roelandts
Lotto Soudal
+ 15'08
43
Matej Mohoric
Astana Pro Team
+ 15'13
44
Anthony Roux
IAM Cycling
+ 15'35
45
Alberto Gallego
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
+ 16'15
46
Alex Howes
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 16'31
47
Garikoitz Bravo
Kaiku
+ 17'10
48
Francisco José Ventoso
Team Katusha
+ 17'11
49
Rubén Fernández
Tinkoff-Saxo
s.t.
50
Abhishek Sinha
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
+ 17'35
51
Michael Schär
IAM Cycling
+ 18'00
52
Chad Haga
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 18'02
53
Lawson Craddock
Team Sky
+ 18'03
54
Jordi Simón
Movistar Team
s.t.
55
Ricardo García
Movistar Team
s.t.
56
Eduard Prades
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
+ 18'10
57
Marc Soler
ActiveJet Team
+ 18'11
58
Michele Scarponi
Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec
+ 18'12
59
Daniel Navarro
Astana Pro Team
+ 18'25
60
Fredrik Galta
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
+ 18'48
61
Vitaliy Buts
Team Europcar
+ 19'05
62
Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 19'22
63
Salvatore Puccio
Astana Pro Team
+ 19'25
64
Nick Van Der Lijke
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
s.t.
65
Michael Mørkøv
MTN-Qhubeka
s.t.
66
Andrea Vaccher
Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec
s.t.
67
Alessandro Tonelli
TEAM Pirelli
+ 20'17
68
Sven Erik Bystrøm
IAM Cycling
s.t.
69
Yonas Tekeste
MTN-Qhubeka
s.t.
70
Filippo Pozzato
Astana Pro Team
+ 20'52
71
Anton Vorobyev
Team Katusha
s.t.
72
Peter Velits
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 20'58
73
Romain Guyot
Team Europcar
+ 21'12
74
Gregor Mühlberger
Bora - Argon 18
+ 21'19
75
Gijs Van Hoecke
Lotto Soudal
+ 21'53
76
Daniele Ratto
TEAM Pirelli
+ 22'01
77
Julien Simon
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
+ 22'12
78
Gregory Brenes
TEAM Pirelli
+ 22'38
79
Diego Ochoa
Colombia
s.t.
80
Pierre-Luc Périchon
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
81
Cristiano Salerno
Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec
s.t.
82
Víctor de la Parte
Movistar Team
+ 22'58
83
Enrique Sanz
Team Katusha
+ 23'02
84
Laurent Beuret
IAM Cycling
+ 23'06
85
Markus Freiberger
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
86
Anthony Turgis
IAM Cycling
+ 23'08
87
Fredrik Ludvigsson
ActiveJet Team
+ 24'20
88
Hugo Pigeon
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
89
Hugh Carthy
Team Sky
s.t.
90
Thierry Hupond
Kaiku
s.t.
91
Jesús Del Pino
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
s.t.
92
Andrea Palini
Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec
+ 25'12
93
Andreas Schillinger
Bora - Argon 18
+ 26'01
94
Matthew Goss
IAM Cycling
+ 26'02
95
Timo Roosen
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
s.t.
96
Floris Gerts
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
s.t.
97
Andrew Fenn
Team Sky
+ 26'19
98
Julien Duval
Team Europcar
s.t.
99
Jon Larrinaga
Burgos - BH
+ 28'27
100
Michael Schwarzmann
Bora - Argon 18
+ 28'28
101
Jay Thomson
MTN-Qhubeka
s.t.
102
Eduardo Estrada
Colombia
+ 28'51
103
Nicolas Baldo
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
104
Lasse Norman Hansen
MTN-Qhubeka
s.t.
105
Tim Kerkhof
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 29'05
106
Marc Sarreau
Team Europcar
+ 29'08
107
Francesco Lasca
Bora - Argon 18
+ 29'14
108
Daniel Jaramillo
Colombia
+ 29'36
109
Marcel Meisen
Bora - Argon 18
+ 29'44
110
Argiro Ospina
Efapel
+ 30'09
111
Robert Wagner
Bora - Argon 18
+ 30'56
112
Michael Gogl
Bora - Argon 18
s.t.
113
Brent Bookwalter
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 31'01
114
Andriy Grivko
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
115
Yoeri Havik
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 31'19
116
Boy Van Poppel
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
s.t.
117
Sébastien Turgot
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
s.t.
118
Pedro Bras
Efapel
+ 31'41
119
Jonas Ahlstrand
Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec
+ 31'46
120
Johannes Fröhlinger
Bora - Argon 18
s.t.
121
Marco Haller
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 31'53
122
Rick Zabel
IAM Cycling
+ 33'02
123
Pieter Jacobs
Lotto Soudal
+ 33'08
124
Davide Plebani
TEAM Pirelli
+ 33'23
125
Christophe Laborie
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
126
Jean-Lou Paiani
Team Europcar
s.t.
127
Flavien Dassonville
Team Europcar
+ 33'42
128
Eryk Latoń
ActiveJet Team
+ 33'50
129
Florian Vachon
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
130
Tom Stamsnijder
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 34'07
131
José Vicente Toribio
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
+ 34'34
132
David Rodrigues
Efapel
+ 35'20
133
Sebastian Mascaro
Movistar Team
+ 35'36
134
Youcef Reguigui
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
+ 35'54
135
Arnau Sole
Burgos - BH
+ 36'42
136
Rino Gasparrini
Colombia
+ 36'45
137
Johann Van Zyl
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 37'04
138
Alexander Wachter
ActiveJet Team
s.t.
139
Aser Estévez
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
140
Jon Aberasturi
Kaiku
+ 37'20
141
Bruno Sancho
Efapel
s.t.
142
Manuel Belletti
Colombia
+ 38'16
143
Martin Velits
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 39'02
144
Bruno Armirail
Colombia
+ 39'12
145
Michael Van Staeyen
MTN-Qhubeka
s.t.
146
Jasper Bovenhuis
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
+ 39'52
147
Arkadiusz Owsian
ActiveJet Team
s.t.
148
Ricardo Mestre
Efapel
+ 39'56
149
Clément Venturini
Team Europcar
+ 41'13
150
Imanol Erviti
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 42'27
151
Theo Bos
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
+ 42'33
152
Constantino Campuzano
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
+ 43'46
153
Juan José Cobo
Efapel
s.t.
154
Bryan Alaphilippe
Colombia
+ 44'51
155
Erwann Corbel
Colombia
s.t.
156
Daniel Mestre
Efapel
s.t.
157
Illart Zuazubiskar
Burgos - BH
+ 44'54
158
Klaas Lodewyck
Lotto Soudal
+ 44'58
159
Pierre Moncorge
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
+ 45'48
160
Allessio Bottura
TEAM Pirelli
+ 46'37
161
Rasmus Quaade
Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec
+ 46'39
162
Mikel Bizkarra
Kaiku
+ 48'41
163
Jesús Herrero
Kaiku
+ 52'07
164
Francisco Manuel Antón
Burgos - BH
+ 57'20
165
Tomasz Mickiewicz
ActiveJet Team
+ 1h02'01
166
Jon Pardo
Burgos - BH
+ 1h07'05
167
Aner Echegaray
ActiveJet Team
+ 1h07'16
168
Łukasz Bodnar
ActiveJet Team
+ 1h07'41
169
Pablo Lechuga
Kaiku
+ 1h08'11
170
Anxo Gibanel
Kaiku
+ 1h18'06
171
Jesús Ezquerra
Burgos - BH
+ 1h20'08
172
Robert Bush
Kaiku
+ 1h22'28
173
Max Stahr
Efapel
+ 1h33'06
Points Classification
1
Michael Matthews
Lotto Soudal
65
2
Fernando Gaviria
Tinkoff-Saxo
51
3
Giacomo Nizzolo
Movistar Team
42
4
Tony Gallopin
Lotto Soudal
34
5
Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg
MTN-Qhubeka
28
Mountain Classification
1
Lars Boom
Team Cannondale - Garmin
56
2
Julien Simon
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
38
3
Vitaliy Buts
Team Europcar
36
4
Cameron Meyer
Team Sky
34
5
Anthony Turgis
IAM Cycling
32
Young Rider Classification
1
Sebastian Henao
IAM Cycling
13h39'37
2
François Bidard
Burgos - BH
+ 27
3
Valerio Conti
Team Katusha
+ 4'04
4
Lilian Calmejane
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
+ 4'09
5
Benjamin Brkic
TEAM Pirelli
+ 6'37
Team Classification
1
Lotto Soudal
41h00'57
2
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 45
3
Astana Pro Team
+ 5'21
4
Movistar Team
+ 7'12
5
Team Katusha
+ 8'37
An underwhelming start to the season for me and the team. The only bright spot here was Calmejane's GC top 20 and the 4th place in the U25s. I got 10th place in the latter classification too.
I continued my early season in Spain with two more races. The first was the one day race in Murcia followed by traditional early spring race in Andalucia.
Vuelta Ciclista a Murcia
I was assigned with the role of protecting Calmejane again, something which I wasn't too pleased with. Despite the Frenchman's good outing in Malorca, I felt I was in good enough form to ride for myself. However, I buckled down and got on with my role. The race was a uneventful one for the most part. The breakaway was caught well before the line, but the fast pace prevented further attacks and most of the pack weer together at the finish. Alexander Geniez took the win for the newly formed Burger King team, the successor to erstwhile BMC. Our best was Martinez in 29th, with me coming in at 42nd place.
1
Alexandre Geniez
Burger King
4h32'10
2
David De la Cruz
Tinkoff-Saxo
s.t.
3
Rafael Valls
Movistar Team
s.t.
4
Dayer Quintana
Tinkoff-Saxo
s.t.
5
Beñat Intxausti
Tinkoff-Saxo
s.t.
6
Joaquím Rodríguez
Team Katusha
s.t.
7
Jan Barta
Burger King
s.t.
8
Fabio Duarte
Colombia
s.t.
9
Eddie Dunbar
Team Katusha
s.t.
10
Joseph Dombrowski
Burger King
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Gorka Izagirre
Tinkoff-Saxo
s.t.
12
Mikel Nieve
Movistar Team
s.t.
13
Thomas De Gendt
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
14
Ivan Rovny
Tinkoff-Saxo
s.t.
15
Beñat Txoperena
Team Katusha
s.t.
16
Samuel Sánchez
Team Katusha
s.t.
17
Miguel Angel Lopez
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
s.t.
18
Diego Rosa
Movistar Team
s.t.
19
Rein Taaramäe
Team Katusha
s.t.
20
Sérgio Pardilla
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
21
Adriano Malori
Burger King
s.t.
22
Sébastien Reichenbach
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
s.t.
23
Emanuel Buchmann
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
s.t.
24
Robert Power
Team Sky
s.t.
25
David López
Movistar Team
s.t.
26
Chris Anker Sørensen
Tinkoff-Saxo
s.t.
27
Bart De Clercq
Team Katusha
s.t.
28
Sergey Firsanov
Team Katusha
s.t.
29
Daniel Felipe Martinez
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
s.t.
30
Marcos García
Movistar Team
s.t.
31
Joey Rosskopf
Burger King
s.t.
32
Tim Wellens
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
33
Daniel Navarro
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
34
Arvid Melchiot
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
s.t.
35
Tao Geoghegan Hart
Team Sky
s.t.
36
Dylan Teuns
Burger King
s.t.
37
Luis Ángel Maté
Team Sky
s.t.
38
André Cardoso
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
39
Francisco José Ventoso
Team Katusha
s.t.
40
Albert Timmer
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
s.t.
41
Daniel Teklehaimanot
Roubaix Lille Métropole
s.t.
42
Abhishek Sinha
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
s.t.
43
Matteo Rabottini
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
44
Jan Hirt
Bora - Argon 18
s.t.
45
Serghei Tvetcov
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
46
Maciej Paterski
MTN-Qhubeka
s.t.
47
Rodolfo Torres
MTN-Qhubeka
s.t.
48
Óscar González
Movistar Team
s.t.
49
Mischa Van der Heijden
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
s.t.
50
Jesús Del Pino
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
s.t.
51
David Belda
Movistar Team
s.t.
52
Lilian Calmejane
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
s.t.
53
Sindre Lunke
Bora - Argon 18
s.t.
54
José Herrada
Team Sky
s.t.
55
Romain Sicard
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
56
Kristijan Durasek
Roubaix Lille Métropole
s.t.
57
Jacques Mevel
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
58
Alexey Lutsenko
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
59
Andrey Zeits
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
60
Paul Voss
Team Giant-Alpecin
s.t.
61
Igor Antón
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
62
Alfredo Balloni
Team Cannondale - Garmin
s.t.
63
Simon Geschke
Team Giant-Alpecin
s.t.
64
Arnold Jeannesson
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
65
Erwann Corbel
Colombia
s.t.
66
Giacomo Berlato
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
67
Marko Díaz
Movistar Team
s.t.
68
Daniel Moreno
Team Sky
s.t.
69
Fernando Gaviria
Tinkoff-Saxo
s.t.
70
Hugh Carthy
Team Sky
s.t.
71
Marc De Maar
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
s.t.
72
Bakhtiyar Kozhatayev
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
73
Silvio Herklotz
Team Giant-Alpecin
s.t.
74
Riccardo Zoidl
Bora - Argon 18
s.t.
75
Miguel Rubiano
Colombia
s.t.
76
Chad Haga
Team Cannondale - Garmin
s.t.
77
Rudy Molard
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
78
Stephen Cummings
Team Sky
s.t.
79
Laurens Ten Dam
Team Giant-Alpecin
s.t.
80
Alex Howes
Team Cannondale - Garmin
s.t.
81
François Bidard
Burgos - BH
s.t.
82
Salvador Moreno
Colombia
s.t.
83
Gregor Mühlberger
Bora - Argon 18
s.t.
84
Romain Hardy
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
85
Jurgen Van den Broeck
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
86
Michael Rogers
MTN-Qhubeka
s.t.
87
José Ramella
Team Cannondale - Garmin
s.t.
88
Koen Bouwman
Team Giant-Alpecin
s.t.
89
Andrea Manfredi
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
90
Fredrik Galta
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
91
Eros Capecchi
Team Cannondale - Garmin
s.t.
92
Karel Hník
MTN-Qhubeka
s.t.
93
Daniel Jaramillo
Colombia
s.t.
94
Ángel Madrazo
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
95
Eugenio Moreno Rosillo
Burgos - BH
s.t.
96
Dries Van Gestel
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
97
Loïc Vliegen
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
98
Guillaume Bonnafond
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
99
Chris Horner
Team Cannondale - Garmin
s.t.
100
Hugo Pigeon
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
101
Marc Soler
ActiveJet Team
s.t.
102
Floris De Tier
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
103
Jhonatan Restrepo
Colombia
s.t.
104
Tom Leezer
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
s.t.
105
Haritz Orbe
Kaiku
s.t.
106
George Preidler
Team Giant-Alpecin
s.t.
107
Daryl Impey
MTN-Qhubeka
s.t.
108
Pierre-Luc Périchon
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
109
Delio Fernández
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
110
Diego Ochoa
Colombia
s.t.
111
Huub Duyn
Team Giant-Alpecin
s.t.
112
Ulf Hausweiler
Bora - Argon 18
s.t.
113
Sérgio Mantecón
Burgos - BH
s.t.
114
Garikoitz Bravo
Kaiku
s.t.
115
Sebastian Trillini
ActiveJet Team
s.t.
116
Yuriy Agarkov
Burgos - BH
s.t.
117
Constantino Campuzano
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
118
Håvard Blikra
Kaiku
s.t.
119
Igor Merino
Kaiku
s.t.
120
Andreas Schillinger
Bora - Argon 18
s.t.
121
Marco Haller
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
s.t.
122
Josip Rumac
MTN-Qhubeka
s.t.
123
Bob Schoonbroodt
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
s.t.
124
Vicente García de Mateos
ActiveJet Team
s.t.
125
Tom Bohli
Burger King
s.t.
126
Jesper Hansen
Roubaix Lille Métropole
s.t.
127
Unai Leva
Kaiku
s.t.
128
Gijs Van Hoecke
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
129
Jérôme Cousin
Roubaix Lille Métropole
s.t.
130
Andrea Fedi
Burger King
s.t.
131
William Guzman
Burgos - BH
s.t.
132
Rüdiger Selig
Bora - Argon 18
s.t.
133
Jimmy Duquennoy
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
134
William Barta
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 3'52
135
Jay Thomson
MTN-Qhubeka
s.t.
136
Alexander Krieger
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
s.t.
137
Mario González
Kaiku
s.t.
138
Jesús Herrero
Kaiku
s.t.
139
Alessandro Ballan
Team Sky
s.t.
140
Tim Kerkhof
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 4'42
141
Jon Pardo
Burgos - BH
+ 5'33
142
Martin Velits
Team Cannondale - Garmin
s.t.
143
Pablo Lechuga
Kaiku
+ 9'09
144
Aner Echegaray
ActiveJet Team
+ 11'10
145
Igor Romero
ActiveJet Team
s.t.
146
Christian Knees
Bora - Argon 18
s.t.
147
Justin Oien
MTN-Qhubeka
s.t.
148
Bernhard Eisel
Roubaix Lille Métropole
s.t.
149
Nathan Van Hooydonck
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
150
Hayato Yoshida
Colombia
s.t.
151
Steven Tronet
Roubaix Lille Métropole
+ 13'56
152
Óscar Pujol
Burgos - BH
s.t.
153
Imanol Erviti
Tinkoff-Saxo
s.t.
154
Jan Maas
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 16'27
155
Stanislaw Dianzenza
ActiveJet Team
s.t.
156
Felix English
ActiveJet Team
s.t.
157
Marcin Białobłocki
ActiveJet Team
s.t.
158
Peter Coulon
Burgos - BH
s.t.
I did my role as best as I could, but the team leaders failed to bring a good result.
Vuelta a Andalucia
A stunning starting line-up saw me line up alongside against multiple WT big guns. Froome, Nairo Quintana, Pinot, Joaquim Rodriguez, Betancur, Zakarin, Gallopin, Kreuziger and Contador were some of the names starting this race! I was all starry eyed as I rolled in to the starting area.
Stage 1 was the short ITT where not much time gaps were expected. The time clock showed 1st place when I crossed the lne. I was on the hot seat for a while. Eventually I ended up in 8th place, just 14 seconds off the pace. I actually beat both Contador and Froome by 12 seconds, both having clocked in identical times. This was huge!
Stage 2 saw me assigned as team leader. This stage was more about not losing touch with the leaders, more than anything else. I managed to do that till about 12 km to go before the attacks started. I rode on till the end, trying to limit my losses. Thibaut Pinot won from a group of 4, while Contador took over the leader's jersey. I fell to 21st in the GC after losing more than 90 seconds on the stage.
Stage 3 was similar to stage 2. The break did not survive and the leaders started their attacks as we reached the closing stage. I finished in the fourth group on the road, moving up to 15th in the GC and 1st in the U25s. Betancur took over the lead in the GC, having finished in the same group as stage winner Gesink while Contador lost time.
Stage 4 was mostly for the sprinters, with a slight uphill finish sure to shake things up a bit. I rode in the pack without incident. The end saw Tony Gallopin prove strongest as the uphill sprinter. Roompot had two riders in the top 10.
Stage 5 fell on my birthday and I led the team again on this day. I stayed in the pack till the breakaway was caught. I launched an attack soon after, with 10 km to go. I was soon caught by a group of 8 high placed GC riders. I went away again inside the last 5 kms and this time there was no swift response. I took my first stage win, a remarkable day for me. I was overjoyed and could hardly control myself as we celebrated!
Me taking my first stage victory, wearing the White Jersey too!
And I made the headlines!
1
Abhishek Sinha
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
4h00'09
2
Fernando Gaviria
Tinkoff-Saxo
s.t.
3
Sonny Colbrelli
Team Katusha
s.t.
4
Sondre Holst Enger
Team Joker
s.t.
5
Robert Gesink
MTN-Qhubeka
s.t.
6
Maurits Lammertink
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
s.t.
7
Carlos Betancur
Tinkoff-Saxo
s.t.
8
Alberto Contador
Team Katusha
s.t.
9
Joaquím Rodríguez
Team Katusha
s.t.
10
Jonathan Hivert
Ag2r La Mondiale
s.t.
Stage 6 was all about protecting my White jersey and making this race even more special. After the break was caught, I tried another sneaky attack with 5 km to go. This time I wasn't successful this time though as the sprint trains swept me up in the final couple of kilometres. Krieger got Roompot a 9th place. Betancur won overall.
General Classification
1
Carlos Betancur
Tinkoff-Saxo
19h44'44
2
Joaquím Rodríguez
Team Katusha
+ 21
3
Alberto Contador
Team Katusha
+ 36
4
Robert Gesink
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 50
5
Chris Froome
Team Sky
+ 55
6
Nairo Quintana
Movistar Team
+ 1'00
7
Edoardo Zardini
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 1'07
8
Jesús Herrada
Movistar Team
+ 1'28
9
Tony Gallopin
Lotto Soudal
+ 2'49
10
Mikel Landa
Team Katusha
+ 3'57
Spoiler
11
Ilnur Zakarin
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 4'00
12
Abhishek Sinha
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
+ 4'05
13
Gorka Izagirre
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 4'19
14
Thibaut Pinot
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 4'54
15
Daniel Moreno
Team Sky
+ 5'11
16
Chad Haga
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 5'26
17
Stef Clement
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 5'51
18
Igor Antón
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
+ 5'59
19
Thomas De Gendt
Lotto Soudal
+ 6'05
20
Roman Kreuziger
Lotto Soudal
+ 8'20
21
Emanuel Buchmann
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
s.t.
22
José Herrada
Team Sky
+ 8'23
23
Víctor de la Parte
Movistar Team
+ 9'15
24
Peter Velits
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 9'18
25
Daryl Impey
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 9'25
26
Jordi Simón
Movistar Team
+ 9'48
27
Alex Howes
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 10'15
28
Ian Boswell
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 10'43
29
Marc Goos
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 11'17
30
Cameron Meyer
Team Sky
+ 11'46
31
Sonny Colbrelli
Team Katusha
+ 12'26
32
Alberto Gallego
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
+ 12'37
33
Janier Acevedo
Colombia
+ 12'42
34
Stéphane Rossetto
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 12'53
35
Karel Hník
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 13'00
36
Jonathan Hivert
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 13'03
37
Daniel Jaramillo
Colombia
+ 13'25
38
Tim Wellens
Lotto Soudal
+ 13'40
39
Lilian Calmejane
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
+ 14'19
40
Albert Timmer
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 14'24
41
Christophe Riblon
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 15'17
42
Ever Rivera
Colombia
+ 16'13
43
Yuriy Agarkov
Burgos - BH
+ 17'18
44
Ben Swift
Team Sky
+ 17'23
45
Willie Smit
Team Joker
+ 18'48
46
Adam Yates
Team Sky
+ 19'32
47
Sébastien Turgot
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 19'36
48
Sondre Holst Enger
Team Joker
+ 19'39
49
Fernando Gaviria
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 19'41
50
Ivan Rovny
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 20'16
51
Rodolfo Torres
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 20'29
52
Matthieu Ladagnous
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 20'41
53
Marc De Maar
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
+ 20'43
54
Pieter Jacobs
Lotto Soudal
+ 20'54
55
Haritz Orbe
Kaiku
+ 21'40
56
Serghei Tvetcov
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
+ 21'47
57
José Vicente Toribio
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
+ 21'53
58
Alexey Tsatevitch
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 22'03
59
Riccardo Zoidl
Bora - Argon 18
+ 22'14
60
Bjørn Tore Nielsen Hoem
Team Joker
+ 23'26
61
Jesús Del Pino
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
+ 24'00
62
Hugo Houle
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 25'40
63
Lasse Norman Hansen
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 25'49
64
Mikel Bizkarra
Kaiku
+ 26'03
65
Vyacheslav Kuznetsov
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 26'16
66
Wesley Kreder
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 26'43
67
Maurits Lammertink
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
+ 27'51
68
Óscar González
Movistar Team
+ 27'54
69
Alex Peters
Team Joker
s.t.
70
William Guzman
Burgos - BH
+ 28'39
71
Yonas Tekeste
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 29'00
72
Barry Markus
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
+ 29'19
73
Eddie Dunbar
Team Katusha
+ 29'27
74
Jan Ghyselinck
Lotto Soudal
+ 29'35
75
Sérgio Mantecón
Burgos - BH
+ 29'43
76
Eryk Latoń
ActiveJet Team
+ 30'40
77
Håvard Blikra
Kaiku
+ 31'02
78
Álex Cano Ardila
Colombia
+ 31'03
79
Egoitz García
Team Katusha
+ 31'18
80
Fabien Grellier
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 31'23
81
Constantino Campuzano
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
+ 31'32
82
Aner Echegaray
ActiveJet Team
+ 32'28
83
Philip Lindau
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
+ 33'32
84
Jon Pardo
Burgos - BH
+ 33'48
85
Alex Dowsett
Movistar Team
+ 34'18
86
Johannes Fröhlinger
Bora - Argon 18
+ 34'26
87
Luis Ángel Maté
Team Sky
+ 35'23
88
Eduardo Estrada
Colombia
+ 35'33
89
Mitchell Docker
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 37'07
90
Hector Saez
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
+ 37'20
91
William Barta
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 37'45
92
Michael Schwarzmann
Bora - Argon 18
+ 38'28
93
Unai Leva
Kaiku
+ 39'22
94
Tom Leezer
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 40'01
95
Óscar Pujol
Burgos - BH
+ 40'44
96
Fredrik Ludvigsson
ActiveJet Team
+ 43'40
97
Manuel Belletti
Colombia
+ 44'02
98
Igor Romero
ActiveJet Team
+ 44'36
99
Jan Brockhoff
Bora - Argon 18
+ 46'51
100
Mario González
Kaiku
+ 47'07
101
Jon Aberasturi
Kaiku
+ 49'31
102
Jay Thomson
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 51'37
103
Gijs Van Hoecke
Lotto Soudal
+ 52'40
104
Vicente García de Mateos
ActiveJet Team
+ 53'25
105
Marco Zanotti
Bora - Argon 18
+ 53'42
106
Alexander Krieger
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
+ 55'40
107
Sebastian Mascaro
Movistar Team
s.t.
108
Luka Grubic
ActiveJet Team
+ 1h01'18
109
Mateusz Nowaczek
Burgos - BH
+ 1h04'23
110
Vadim Galeyev
Kaiku
+ 1h11'19
111
Manuel Porzner
Bora - Argon 18
+ 1h11'30
112
Arkadiusz Owsian
ActiveJet Team
+ 1h12'13
113
Erwann Corbel
Colombia
+ 1h17'14
114
David Boily
Team Joker
+ 1h24'24
115
Petter Schmidt
Team Joker
+ 1h31'15
116
Peter Coulon
Burgos - BH
+ 1h43'32
Points Classification
1
Tony Gallopin
Lotto Soudal
55
2
Carlos Betancur
Tinkoff-Saxo
53
3
Robert Gesink
MTN-Qhubeka
52
4
Fernando Gaviria
Tinkoff-Saxo
52
5
Joaquím Rodríguez
Team Katusha
44
Mountain Classification
1
Yuriy Agarkov
Burgos - BH
31
2
Peter Velits
Team Cannondale - Garmin
15
3
Jesús Del Pino
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
13
4
Robert Gesink
MTN-Qhubeka
10
5
Víctor de la Parte
Movistar Team
10
Young Riders Classification
1
Abhishek Sinha
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
19h48'49
2
Emanuel Buchmann
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 4'15
3
Lilian Calmejane
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
+ 10'14
4
Ever Rivera
Colombia
+ 12'08
5
Willie Smit
Team Joker
+ 14'43
Team Classification
1
Team Katusha
59h18'36
2
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 2'15
3
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 3'55
4
Lotto Soudal
+ 6'29
5
Movistar Team
+ 6'55
12th place in this field! Just look at the riders I finished ahead of. 1st in the U25s! To top it all off, THAT brilliant stage win after a dual attack on stage 5. This has been the best race of my professional life so far. Spain really is my lucky charm. And I proved to the team that I can lead in tough races. Quite a good race for the team too. Just perfect!
I rode into March full of confidence after having claimed my first stage win in Andalucia. Two stage races and a lone one-day classic was scheduled for me. My reward from the team for having won my first stage, a chance to ride in my first ever World Tour race in Catalunya at the end of this month! It was fitting that this milestone was reached in Spain too, given my love affair with the country when it came to riding well. First up though, I was off to Taiwan...
Tour de Taiwan
It was odd flying over my native land but not touching down there, But the racing couldn't wait and I was the team leader in Taiwan. I wanted to keep my good run going, having enjoyed the limelight over the past couple of weeks.
Stage 1 was for the sprinters and I stayed safely in the pack. Marc Sarreau took an unlikely victory here.
Stage 2 was a mountain top finish with an easy easy approach. The GC favourites stayed together till the base of the climb. Riders started dropping from the already reduced bunch. I was a part of the lead group of 3 riders with 4 km to go. Benat Intxausti attacked soon after. I too followed suit but the Spaniard was already too far ahead by then. He took the stage win comfortably. I managed to distance Geniez and claimed a brilliant 2nd place.
1
Beñat Intxausti
Tinkoff-Saxo
2h26'20
2
Abhishek Sinha
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
+ 1'09
3
Alexandre Geniez
Burger King
+ 2'27
4
David De la Cruz
Tinkoff-Saxo
s.t.
5
Sindre Lunke
Bora - Argon 18
+ 2'42
6
Diego Rosa
Movistar Team
s.t.
7
Jan Hirt
Bora - Argon 18
+ 2'54
8
Patrick Konrad
A1 Telekom
s.t.
9
Rafael Valls
Movistar Team
+ 3'08
10
Yoann Bagot
Team Europcar
s.t.
Stage 3 was ridden at a leisurly pace by the peloton which allowed the break of the day to claim victory, just hanging on ahead of the sprinters in the pack.
Stage 4 saw me categorised as one the favourites! I managed to keep myself with the other GC favourites till about 12 km to go. I got dropped taking on water from the team car, something which still does sit too well with me, to be honest. This was one of the main reasons I lost more than 5 minutes on this stage, dropping down to 8th in the GC.
Stage 5 was another flat stage, which meant there was no further scope to make up time in the GC. A late attack spoilt the day for the sprinters once again as Sergey Nikolaev took home the win.
General Classification
1
Beñat Intxausti
Tinkoff-Saxo
13h15'34
2
Alexandre Geniez
Burger King
+ 1'55
3
Diego Rosa
Movistar Team
+ 2'10
4
Sindre Lunke
Bora - Argon 18
+ 4'37
5
Jan Hirt
Bora - Argon 18
+ 4'49
6
Rafael Valls
Movistar Team
+ 5'03
7
David De la Cruz
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 6'01
8
Abhishek Sinha
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
+ 6'05
9
Javier Moreno
Movistar Team
+ 7'03
10
Ever Rivera
Colombia
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Patrick Konrad
A1 Telekom
+ 7'06
12
Yoann Bagot
Team Europcar
+ 7'20
13
Daniele Dall'Oste
Colombia
+ 8'14
14
Serghei Tvetcov
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
+ 8'22
15
Óscar González
Movistar Team
s.t.
16
Jan Barta
Burger King
+ 9'25
17
Nikita Novikov
RusVelo
+ 9'29
18
Alexis Guerin
Team Europcar
s.t.
19
Víctor de la Parte
Movistar Team
+ 9'50
20
Unai Intziarte
Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling Team - Al Ahli Club
s.t.
21
José Gonçalves
NIPPO - Vini Fantini
+ 9'59
22
Bernardo Suaza
Southeast
+ 10'26
23
Carlos Gálviz
Jefferson Capital International
+ 10'57
24
Paweł Poljański
TEAM Pirelli
+ 11'58
25
Patrick Gretsch
Movistar Team
+ 12'25
26
Hossein Alizadeh
RusVelo
+ 13'32
27
Alexey Vermeulen
Burger King
+ 13'53
28
Ennex Sebright
Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
+ 14'00
29
Jóni Brandão
Jefferson Capital International
+ 14'02
30
Sergey Nikolaev
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
+ 14'25
31
Alessandro Bisolti
Southeast
+ 14'34
32
Antonino Parrinello
TEAM Pirelli
+ 14'38
33
Artem Ovechkin
Vérandas Willems
+ 15'13
34
Michael Hümbert
A1 Telekom
+ 15'22
35
Alexey Tsatevitch
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 15'24
36
Nelson Oliveira
Tinkoff-Saxo
s.t.
37
Floris De Tier
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
38
Dante Carpenter
RusVelo
+ 16'00
39
Simone Ponzi
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 16'27
40
Vyacheslav Kuznetsov
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 16'31
41
Aleksejs Saramotins
Movistar Team
+ 17'01
42
Valery Kaykov
RusVelo
+ 17'41
43
Matej Vysna
Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling Team - Al Ahli Club
+ 17'43
44
Maxim Belkov
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 17'45
45
Willy Willwohl
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 17'47
46
Maarten Wynants
Burger King
s.t.
47
Alex Dowsett
Movistar Team
s.t.
48
Daniel Eaton
Jefferson Capital International
s.t.
49
Eduardo Estrada
Colombia
+ 18'33
50
Ulf Hausweiler
Bora - Argon 18
+ 18'48
51
Andrey Lukonin
Southeast
+ 18'52
52
Andriy Grivko
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
+ 18'56
53
Christian Knees
Bora - Argon 18
+ 19'32
54
Jasper Lindenbergh
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
s.t.
55
Jérémy Roy
Team Europcar
s.t.
56
Chris Barton
Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
s.t.
57
Mirko Tedeschi
NIPPO - Vini Fantini
s.t.
58
Jonas Gregaard
Team Europcar
s.t.
59
Paweł Franczak
Southeast
+ 19'41
60
Tosh Van der Sande
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
+ 19'52
61
Marcel Meisen
Bora - Argon 18
s.t.
62
Michael Gogl
Bora - Argon 18
s.t.
63
Martin Kohler
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
+ 20'23
64
Aser Estévez
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
65
Daniel Díaz
Jefferson Capital International
+ 20'28
66
Marc Sarreau
Team Europcar
+ 20'39
67
Matthijs Eversdijk
Rabobank Development Team
+ 20'53
68
Lukas Spengler
Burger King
+ 21'03
69
Diego Milán
Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling Team - Al Ahli Club
+ 21'22
70
Michael Schwarzmann
Bora - Argon 18
+ 21'27
71
Nico Denz
A1 Telekom
+ 21'30
72
Cesare Benedetti
NIPPO - Vini Fantini
+ 21'32
73
Grégory Rast
Burger King
+ 21'33
74
Omar Lombardi
NIPPO - Vini Fantini
s.t.
75
Stefan Schumacher
A1 Telekom
+ 21'34
76
Jeffrey Romero
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
+ 21'39
77
Yousif Banihammad
Vérandas Willems
s.t.
78
Dennis Vanendert
Burger King
+ 23'21
79
Erik Baska
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
+ 23'24
80
Bartłomiej Matysiak
Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
s.t.
81
Pierre-Henri Lecuisinier
Team Europcar
s.t.
82
Davide Gabburo
NIPPO - Vini Fantini
s.t.
83
Manuel Belletti
Colombia
s.t.
84
Simone Andreetta
RusVelo
+ 23'47
85
Rafal Palik
Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling Team - Al Ahli Club
+ 23'58
86
Rafael Infantino
Colombia
+ 24'00
87
Muhamad Othman
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
+ 24'03
88
Bruno Armirail
Colombia
s.t.
89
Rubén Zepuntke
Avanti Racing Team
+ 24'10
90
Thomas Wrona
Jefferson Capital International
+ 24'25
91
Daniel McConnell
Avanti Racing Team
+ 24'39
92
Logan Owen
Burger King
+ 24'55
93
Dylan Van Zijl
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
s.t.
94
Kristian Sobota
Vérandas Willems
+ 25'23
95
Christian Koch
Bora - Argon 18
+ 25'26
96
Daniele Aldegheri
NIPPO - Vini Fantini
s.t.
97
Hayato Yoshida
Colombia
s.t.
98
Blaise Sonnery
Team Europcar
s.t.
99
Alessandro Tonelli
TEAM Pirelli
+ 26'10
100
Sean Downey
Avanti Racing Team
+ 26'39
101
Gamba Rainsford
Vérandas Willems
+ 27'39
102
Rino Gasparrini
Colombia
+ 28'17
103
Filippo Fortin
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
104
Olivier Pardini
Vérandas Willems
s.t.
105
Bob Schoonbroodt
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
+ 28'43
106
Michele Scartezzini
NIPPO - Vini Fantini
+ 29'09
107
Philip Mooney
Jefferson Capital International
s.t.
108
Raffaele Radice
Southeast
+ 29'29
109
Adrien Costa
Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
+ 29'37
110
Sieben Wouters
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
+ 29'38
111
Alo Jakin
Jefferson Capital International
+ 29'55
112
Dex Groen
A1 Telekom
s.t.
113
Joel Zangerle
Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling Team - Al Ahli Club
s.t.
114
Cole House
Jefferson Capital International
+ 30'59
115
Florian Senechal
Team Europcar
+ 31'08
116
Gert-Jan Bosman
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
+ 31'25
117
Paul van der Ploeg
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
+ 31'30
118
Shem Rodger
Avanti Racing Team
+ 31'33
119
Onur Balkan
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
+ 31'40
120
Liam Bertazzo
Southeast
s.t.
121
Mamyr Stash
RusVelo
s.t.
122
Sven Reutter
Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
s.t.
123
Ibai Salas
Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
s.t.
124
Antonio Viola
NIPPO - Vini Fantini
s.t.
125
Matteo Collodel
Southeast
+ 33'02
126
Feritcam Samli
Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
+ 33'42
127
Louis Convens
Vérandas Willems
s.t.
128
Danilo Napolitano
TEAM Pirelli
s.t.
129
Andreas Vangstad
Vérandas Willems
s.t.
130
Maximilian Werda
Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
s.t.
131
Dennis Van Winden
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
132
Ludwig Bengtsson
Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling Team - Al Ahli Club
s.t.
133
Tiziano Dall'Antonia
TEAM Pirelli
s.t.
134
Tim Ariesen
Rabobank Development Team
s.t.
135
Alexander Ray
Avanti Racing Team
s.t.
136
James Judd
Avanti Racing Team
+ 35'32
137
Kirill Yatsevich
RusVelo
+ 35'55
138
Alexandr Komin
RusVelo
s.t.
139
Malcom Rudolph
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
+ 36'20
140
Maarten Van Trijp
Rabobank Development Team
+ 36'33
141
Lionel Taminiaux
Vérandas Willems
s.t.
142
Luke Davison
Avanti Racing Team
s.t.
143
Nawaf Albalooshi
Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling Team - Al Ahli Club
+ 37'52
144
Timo Roosen
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
+ 39'43
145
Ronan Van Zandbeek
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
+ 40'37
146
Filipe Cardoso
Avanti Racing Team
s.t.
147
Ron Aalbers
Rabobank Development Team
+ 41'17
148
Martin Hebik
Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling Team - Al Ahli Club
+ 41'48
149
Ferdinand Waschke
A1 Telekom
+ 43'58
150
Stef Krul
Rabobank Development Team
+ 44'36
151
Enrico Franzoi
Southeast
+ 45'22
152
Wim Stroetinga
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
+ 45'36
153
Ike Groen
Rabobank Development Team
+ 46'34
Points Classification
1
Marc Sarreau
Team Europcar
47
2
Beñat Intxausti
Tinkoff-Saxo
46
3
Michael Schwarzmann
Bora - Argon 18
42
4
Alexandre Geniez
Burger King
36
5
Diego Rosa
Movistar Team
35
Mountain Classification
1
Beñat Intxausti
Tinkoff-Saxo
28
2
Alexandre Geniez
Burger King
24
3
Diego Rosa
Movistar Team
24
4
Sindre Lunke
Bora - Argon 18
12
5
Rafael Valls
Movistar Team
12
Young Riders Classification
1
Sindre Lunke
Bora - Argon 18
13h20'11
2
Abhishek Sinha
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
+ 1'28
3
Ever Rivera
Colombia
+ 2'26
4
Óscar González
Movistar Team
+ 3'45
5
Alexis Guerin
Team Europcar
+ 4'52
Team Classification
1
Movistar Team
40h01'08
2
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 7'13
3
Bora - Argon 18
+ 10'24
4
Burger King
+ 10'57
5
Colombia
+ 17'24
Second place in the U25s is all I come away with in the classifications from Taiwan. It could so easily have been 2nd place in the GC! An amateur mistake which became very costly. I know I'm still in good form though, which is a good thing.
Nokere Koerse
I was picked as a helper for Lammertink. With 12 km to go, Sander Helven rode away from the pack with no one chasing. I was riding at the front and looked back to see if Lammertink was feeling up for an attack. He shook his head and gave me license to ride my own race going ahead. I decided to chase the solo break and no one chased me either! I kept closing the gap, but ran out of road in the end. I settled for 2nd place, my best placing in a one day race yet!
That's me in the background coming home in 2nd place!
1
Sander Helven
Colruyt
4h27'10
2
Abhishek Sinha
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
+ 29
3
Boris Vallée
Trek Factory Racing
+ 3'00
4
Edward Theuns
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
5
Fabio Felline
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
6
Andrea Zordan
Leopard Development Team
s.t.
7
Marco Haller
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
s.t.
8
André Looij
Team Giant-Alpecin
s.t.
9
Florent Delfosse
Veranclassic - Ekoi
s.t.
10
Zico Waeytens
Etixx - Quick-step
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Dylan van Baarle
Team Giant-Alpecin
s.t.
12
Pascal Ackermann
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
13
Christophe Laporte
Etixx - Quick-step
s.t.
14
Gianni Meersman
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
15
Wesley Kreder
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
s.t.
16
Jurgen van Diemen
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
s.t.
17
Kenneth Vanbilsen
Etixx - Quick-step
s.t.
18
Matthew Brammeier
An Post - Chainreaction
s.t.
19
Jan Maas
Team Giant-Alpecin
s.t.
20
Eliot Lietaer
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
21
Tom Leezer
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
s.t.
22
Youcef Reguigui
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
s.t.
23
Gijs Van Hoecke
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
24
Maurits Lammertink
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
s.t.
25
Brian Van Goethem
Team Giant-Alpecin
s.t.
26
Heinrich Haussler
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
27
Simon Geschke
Team Giant-Alpecin
s.t.
28
Sven Jodts
An Post - Chainreaction
s.t.
29
Dries De Bondt
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
30
Bert De Backer
Team Giant-Alpecin
s.t.
31
Marc De Maar
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
s.t.
32
Jonathan Dufrasne
Ventilair
s.t.
33
Silvan Dillier
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
34
Nicola Boem
Ventilair
s.t.
35
Lluis Guillermo Mas Bonet
Cibel
s.t.
36
Eugert Zhupa
An Post - Chainreaction
s.t.
37
Tim Declercq
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
38
Pieter Serry
Etixx - Quick-step
s.t.
39
Loïc Vliegen
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
40
Nikias Arndt
Team Giant-Alpecin
s.t.
41
Tom Devriendt
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
42
Tim Kerkhof
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
s.t.
43
Dieter Bouvry
Cibel
s.t.
44
Petr Vakoč
Etixx - Quick-step
s.t.
45
Klaas Lodewyck
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
46
Martijn Degreve
Ventilair
s.t.
47
Jenthe Biermans
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
48
Jonas Van Genechten
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
s.t.
49
Mike Teunissen
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
s.t.
50
Preben Van Hecke
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
51
Luke Keough
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
52
Andris Smirnovs
Cibel
s.t.
53
George Tansley
Vérandas Willems
s.t.
54
Javier Francisco Aramendia
SEG Racing
s.t.
55
Niels van Dorsselaer
Ventilair
s.t.
56
Jordi van Dingenen
Etixx - Quick-step
s.t.
57
Jimmi Sørensen
Leopard Development Team
s.t.
58
Lander Seynaeve
Ventilair
s.t.
59
Iuri Filosi
Ventilair
s.t.
60
Maarten Craeghs
Colruyt
s.t.
61
Roman Maikin
SEG Racing
s.t.
62
Alessandro Malaguti
Leopard Development Team
s.t.
63
Jelle Donders
Colruyt
s.t.
64
Dennis Coenen
Vastgoedservice - Golden Palace
s.t.
65
Federico Canuti
Leopard Development Team
s.t.
66
Walt de Winter
Colruyt
s.t.
67
Julien Stassen
Wallonie - Bruxelles
s.t.
68
Benjamin Verraes
Cibel
s.t.
69
Michael Goolaerts
Vastgoedservice - Golden Palace
s.t.
70
Kristof Vandewalle
Etixx - Quick-step
s.t.
71
Fernando Grijalba
Parkhotel Valkenburg Continental Team
s.t.
72
Olivier Naesen
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
73
Marco Minnaard
Parkhotel Valkenburg Continental Team
s.t.
74
Sander Cordeel
Vastgoedservice - Golden Palace
s.t.
75
Dimitri Peyskens
Cibel
s.t.
76
Nino Honigh
SEG Racing
s.t.
77
Connor McConvey
An Post - Chainreaction
s.t.
78
Fabio Silvestre
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
s.t.
79
Maxat Ayazbayev
Veranclassic - Ekoi
s.t.
80
Ricky Timmer
Rabobank Development Team
s.t.
81
Jens Wallays
Team 3M
s.t.
82
Bert-Jan Lindeman
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
s.t.
83
Alistair Murdock
An Post - Chainreaction
s.t.
84
Rémy Mertz
Wallonie - Bruxelles
s.t.
85
Ying Hon Yeung
Wallonie - Bruxelles
s.t.
86
Gaetan Bille
Vérandas Willems
s.t.
87
Jan Keller
Veranclassic - Ekoi
s.t.
88
Kenneth Van Rooy
Team 3M
s.t.
89
Emil Vinjebo
Vastgoedservice - Golden Palace
s.t.
90
Christophe Premont
Cibel
s.t.
91
Milan Menten
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
92
Eoin McCarthy
An Post - Chainreaction
s.t.
93
Benjamin Hill
Parkhotel Valkenburg Continental Team
s.t.
94
Patrick Clausen
Parkhotel Valkenburg Continental Team
s.t.
95
Kevin van Staeyen
Colruyt
s.t.
96
Jordi Talen
Rabobank Development Team
s.t.
97
Arman Kamyshev
Veranclassic - Ekoi
s.t.
98
Vincent Baestaens
Cibel
s.t.
99
Nicolas Mertz
Veranclassic - Ekoi
s.t.
100
Gaëtan Pons
Ventilair
s.t.
101
Nikolas Maes
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
102
Bas Tietema
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
s.t.
103
Sjoerd Van Ginneken
SEG Racing
s.t.
104
Rubén Pols
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
105
Jens Adams
Team 3M
s.t.
106
Louis Verhelst
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
107
Johan Hemroulle
Wallonie - Bruxelles
s.t.
108
Kristian Sobota
Vérandas Willems
s.t.
109
Joeri Calleeuw
Team 3M
s.t.
110
Stig Broeckx
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
111
Joeri Adams
Cibel
s.t.
112
Behnam Khalili Khosroshahi
Vérandas Willems
s.t.
113
Wout van Aert
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
114
Marcello Pavarin
Leopard Development Team
s.t.
115
Andrei Voicu
Vastgoedservice - Golden Palace
s.t.
116
Ruslan Karimov
Vastgoedservice - Golden Palace
s.t.
117
Joris Dertin
Ventilair
s.t.
118
Vitali Kondrut
Vérandas Willems
s.t.
119
Gert-Jan Bosman
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
s.t.
120
Tom Veelers
Team Giant-Alpecin
s.t.
121
Mark Dzamastagic
Parkhotel Valkenburg Continental Team
s.t.
122
Kevin Thome
Veranclassic - Ekoi
s.t.
123
Louis Convens
Vérandas Willems
s.t.
124
Tim Ariesen
Rabobank Development Team
s.t.
125
Niels Vandyck
Vastgoedservice - Golden Palace
s.t.
126
Olivier Pardini
Vérandas Willems
s.t.
127
Franz Schiewer
Wallonie - Bruxelles
s.t.
128
Johannes Christofel Nel
Vérandas Willems
s.t.
129
Dominique Cornu
Veranclassic - Ekoi
s.t.
130
Klemen Stimulak
Colruyt
s.t.
131
Riccardo Donato
Leopard Development Team
s.t.
132
Tobias Ludvigsson
Etixx - Quick-step
s.t.
133
Sandy Prinsier
Team 3M
s.t.
134
Stefan Schäfer
Parkhotel Valkenburg Continental Team
s.t.
135
Alois Kankovsky
Veranclassic - Ekoi
s.t.
136
Maarten Neyens
Team 3M
s.t.
137
Ronan Van Zandbeek
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
s.t.
138
Marcus Christie
An Post - Chainreaction
+ 7'15
139
Vinnie Braet
Team 3M
+ 7'52
140
Luca Wackermann
Leopard Development Team
+ 8'40
141
Fabio Jakobsen
Rabobank Development Team
s.t.
142
Sam Bassetti
Vastgoedservice - Golden Palace
s.t.
143
Kobus Hereijgers
Parkhotel Valkenburg Continental Team
s.t.
144
Ron Aalbers
Rabobank Development Team
s.t.
145
Jori van Steenberghen
Colruyt
s.t.
146
Dennis Bakker
Wallonie - Bruxelles
s.t.
147
Jarno Gmelich
SEG Racing
s.t.
148
Kevin Callebaut
Colruyt
s.t.
149
René Hooghiemster
SEG Racing
s.t.
150
Alex Kirsch
Leopard Development Team
s.t.
151
Jean-Albert Carnevali
Wallonie - Bruxelles
s.t.
152
Tom Vermeer
SEG Racing
+ 11'35
153
Brennan Townshend
An Post - Chainreaction
+ 12'20
154
Gertjan De Vos
Team 3M
s.t.
155
Rick Ottema
Rabobank Development Team
+ 12'59
156
Rico Reekers
SEG Racing
+ 13'34
157
Jelle Wolsink
Parkhotel Valkenburg Continental Team
+ 14'47
158
Alberto Losada
Wallonie - Bruxelles
+ 18'57
March has started off with two great results. Catalunya is still to come. Let's see what I can pull off there.
. It's good to be back!
