One of the more peculiar races of the season comes in the lowlands, where puncheurs, cobblers, and rouleurs come together to tackle the Benelux Challenge. Maes represented the team, although his lacking climbing and prologue abilities put him out of contention on the most part. Interestingly, Mikkel Honore also was delivered a mention in the media preview. Nothing exciting takes place in the prologue, with Maes down at +'31, although Steimle does well to make it into the Top 15. Difficulty forming a breakaway on day two but Sleen, Chokri, and Honore all make an attempt. None of them actually make it into the BotD, and Tryg doesn't contest the sprint at the end.


Sleen fighting for the first Cat 3

The third Day was one for the GC riders, as the peloton tackled the difficult climbs of the Ardennes. Sleen attacking once more, this time establishing himself in the breakaway. As Sleen takes part in the contest for the KoM, the chasing pack shatters behind him, with Maes caught out and quickly losing time. Sleen rides well, but can't quite hold on to the end, instead finishing as part of the leading group. Interestingly enough Pedersen, Steimle, Bergstrom Frisk, and Kanter, all also make it into that leading group, whereas Maes finishes over three minutes behind. Steimle slides into 3rd in the GC, at least temporarily.


Attacking the final climb with his companions, Torjus Sleen

The paves offered Maes an opportunity to gain back the time he lost the day prior, although they were relatively sparse, and matched with a series of climbs. Sleen was not present in the breakaway, the young Norwegian evidently not confident in his ability on the cobbles. Some good domestique work by the Tryg talents was enough to reel the early attacks but in, but as OMV riders began to make moves in the closing stages Maes wasn't close enough to their wheels. Instead, he missed out on what would be the winning move, and was forced to sprint for fourth from the pack. Somewhat disappointing, and the lack of a good attacking move means he remains a while away from the GC lead.


The sprint to the line

No excitement for Tryg in Stage 5, as only Steimle finishes near the front, allowing him a chance at a decent GC position. Similarly, the flat of Stage 6 doesn't produce much in the way of Tryg jerseys. Instead it is an impressive GC result for Steimle in 14th, and Frisk in 25th - good results for the two loanees. Maes disappointing in 52nd. Sleen decent in the KoM, although could've done better. Steimle, just missing out on the Youth podium.


The final sprint

Management Grade: D


After his success in Argentina, Hoelgaard continued his time in South America, this time taking on a semi-mountainous stage in Rio. The media weren't sure what to make of the startlist, but on the basis of preceding results, Hoelgaard was considered an outside favourite for the win. Nobody from Tryg jumped into the breakaway, so we didn't see any action until Siskevicius launches a move towards the end. Hoelgaard chose to let the peloton bring the Lithuanian back, conserving his strength. Eventually, on the final climb of the day, Hoelgaard makes his move, followed by Bystrom and Thiery.


Hoelgaard attacks

Thiery was unable to stick with the move as Hoelgaard catches Siskevicius. The Lithuanian went too early as well, and couldn't hold on as the Norwegian pair rode past away. Hoelgaard continued to hammer up the incline. but Bystrom held strong. That is, at least, until just metres before the summit, where Bystrom finally cracks and Hoelgaard rides off alone. At the top of the climb, Hoelgaard is over two minutes ahead of his nearest compeititors. Nobody can catch him on the flat, and Hoelgaard wins Rio Vista Chinesa!


Arms raised in celebration, nobody else in sight

Management Grade: A+


The focus stays with Hoelgaard, who travelled north to compete across two stages in Canada. Shorter ascents here, rather than semi-mountains, mean that Hoelgaard is only considered an outside favourite. The first stage saw a group of just under forty riders make it to the final climb, where Hoelgaard was the first to launch an attack. Despite the attempts of Roux, nobody could catch the storming Norwegian who secured yet another victory.


Another day, another victory for Hoelgaard

With no gaps awarded, Hoelgaard needed to be strong on the second day if he was to defend the yellow jersey. On the penultimate climb Hoelgaard followed an attack by Costa. Pellaud could not hold his wheel, and so Costa went clear. He was caught on the next climb, with Siskevicius attacking over him, only to the be brought back, allowing Zingle to attack on the descent. Hoelgaard launches a sprint from a long way out, but manages to keep the power on long enough to catch Zingle's rearwheel by the line, so the judges determine he finished at the same time as the stage victor. A strong ride on both days means Hoelgaard wins the GC and Points

Management Grade: A+


The jewel that crowns the U23 season, it's the Tour de l'Avenir, where we get to see the best and brightest of the next generation. Steimle and Abdurrahman rode for their home teams, with Kanter, Munyaneza, and Zimmerman all riding with Team Puma - SAP, everybody else was in Tryg colours. No favourites, although Pedersen was noted as an outsider for the flat stages. Riding their only ever Avenir were Vingegaard, Pedersen, Klaris, and Munyaneza, with all the other Tryg riders being able to return next year. Disappointing start, with no good performances in the prologue.


Norsgaard struggling on the TT bike

Larsen joins the breakaway on the second day of racing, challenging for both the polkadots and potentially the yellow jersey at the intermediate sprint. Finally, he attacks his companions as the peleton closed in, but was unable to make any serious headway. No riders in Tryg jerseys contest the sprint, which ends up being very close between a number of candidates. Despite this, Jannik Steimle, riding in the white & black Puma jersey, manages to secure 12th.


Larsen on the attack

There's a lot of congestion trying to create the breakaway on the third day, which was another flat stage, this time with three intermediate sprints. Larsen would make up part of the breakaway that eventually emerged. The intermediate sprints were strongly contested, as enough bonus seconds could be accrued so as to place a rider in the yellow jersey overnight. Larsen would eventually lose out on this opportunity, and the break was reeled back in without ever really threatening for the stage win. Steimle contests the sprint once more, but isn't near to the stage win, while Larsen manages to finish in the peleton, giving him another shot at the GC.


Larsen fighting in the break

Again, it takes multiple attacks and counters before a breakaway begins to form. Today this includes Honore, Sleen, Kanter, and Pedersen. It is only Pedersen who makes it into the break that finally forms. Given the danger of the hills near the end of this stage, the peleton is quick to bring the break back, ending the day for Pedersen. The race heats up towards the end, with the strong domestique work throughout the day allowing for some exciting attacks. No involvement for Tryg unfortunately so not much to say about it.


Pedersen makes his escape

The next day its back on the TT bike for a moderate length ride. Norsgaard not a favourite for this stage, but he might've fancied his chances at a Top 10. A good early ride saw him provisionally second when he crossed the line, although that didn't last long. As the GC and stage favourites came through the young Dane slid down the order. Things weren't looking bright, but a series of underperformances meant the day ended with Norsgaard in 10th, not a bad result.


Head down, shoulders in, legs pumping

It's good to see Munyaneza, one of our stagiares, attacking on the fifth day, where a ramp right at the finish could play havoc with the GC. The Rwandan is brought back, but he is replaced by both Kanter and Honore; here riding in different jerseys. Neither achieve much more, and the break fails to make it to the finish. A large peleton forms on the first real mountain stage, with Abdurrahman, Vingegaard, and Zimmerman all present. The break struggles for cohesion on the longer climbs, ripping and tearing only to reform on the reverse slopes. Vingegaard and Zimmerman are eventually dropped permanently, but Abdurrahman stays with it, and even attacks halfway up the penultimate climb.


Strung out along the road, the breakaway

Larsen made an attempt at the breakaway twice on the penultimate day, but neither move stuck. Steimle got involved in the sprint once more, and this time he was able to push himself to third, a good sign for the young man's future. Vingegaard and Abdurrahman made a return to the breakaway on the final stage, as they set out to tackle the mountains; Zimmerman eventually joins them as well. Abdurrahman can't find the energy to challenge for the polkadots, so it is instead Zimmerman who sets the climbs alight, riding well to hold on to the wheels of stronger competitors. Despite this, none of the three can hold on to the end, dropping away from the break on the final climbs.


Steimle surging round the outside

Management Grade: C

An opportunity for redemption for Yamamoto, although an unlikely one at that, as the team headed to the United States for one of the MGUCI-mandated flat races. Chokri was eager to have a go, joining the breakaway of the day. The Morrocan is the first escapee to lose touch, although they are all reeled in well away from the finish. This leaves room for attacks from the peleton, one of which provides enough of a gap to gain the victory, with Yamamoto forfitting the sprint as a result.


Yamamoto dropped from the break

Management Grade: F


In the Basque country are the foothills of the Pyrenees, these climbs which range from short ramps to semi-mountains provide Hoelgaard with another opportunity to continue his scoring form. Day One is for the sprinters, and without any presence Hoelgaard rode quietly, attentive to any gaps which might have formed. The second day ends in a bunched sprint again, however with a bit more climbing early on Hoelgaard is willing to fight for some points to start off a potential hunt for the green jersey.


Hoelgaard joins the sprint

The next day sees four climbs leading into a downhill finish, potentially a stage for Hoelgaard's hybrid abilities to shine. He sat back until the final climb, at the base of which he launched an attack which only Siskevicius could follow. On the descent several other favourites bridged to the duo, setting up a select sprint. Hoelgaard lead them under the flamme rouge, and his acceleration saw only Chaves & Siskevicius left to challenge him - he went too early however, and cracked moments before the finish, dropping to third.


Hoelgaard leads the trio out

Chaves was the first favourite to attack on the final climb of the race, and with no time gaps having been awarded in the previous stage, it had the potential to be decisive. Hoelgaard was the first to lead the chase, then Potocki took over as Siskevicius began to struggle. It was all too much for Hoelgaard as well, whose legs were still tired from the previous day's attacks. He crumbled to 7th on the stage, which meant 7th in the GC.

Management Grade: B


With the best riders of the CT present, Cort Nielsen was a wee way outside of the media coverage for this Romanian mountain climb. A single day, and a single climb taking up half the course. The Dane and his domestiques were quiet, not in the break and not pulling the peleton, but the Tryg jersey could be spotted lurking near the front as the pack makes its way up the climb. Cort Nielsen missed out on the winning move as Potocki could not hold onto the wheel of Valls. Instead he paced in the chasing group before attacking near the summit, scoring a solid 6th. Burmann also riding well to finish with at the front of the peleton.


Passing Kiserlovski on the line

Management Grade: B+


In Russia for another classic with Hoelgaard in the lead. The climbs here aren't quite as lengthy as those at Bizikleta, so the Norwegian wasn't expected to perform quite as well as he did there. Nonetheless, with a relatively weak field, management were hoping for some good points. Bersgstrom Frisk opened the day up with a move into the breakaway. Relatively unexciting in the end, with no attacks able to get away from the peleton, Hoelgaard sprinted for 6th.


Pipped at the line

Management Grade: B

In the interest of time, and the desire to begin an overview of the entire 2019 season, this month's round up will be shorter than usual, focusing exclusively on highlights.


In this final cobbled race of the season, Maes misses out on the winning move and despite a valiant effort to draw back the escapees he would lose out in the final sprint. A disappointing end to the season in 16th.




Ending his season where he started it, Yamamoto road decently down under with a pair of Top 10 finishes enough to secure him 9th in the points. Sleen and Pedersen also made appearances, albeit in the breakaway.




Having two compulsory flat races scheduled to run concurrently really wasn't the best for a squad which was designed around any other terrain. Still Hoelgaard and Maes made the most of it, with the former getting 1st in the KoM and the latter launching a daring (failed) attack on the first day, before bringing back 14th in the GC.




An exciting final race saw Hoelgaard make it into the elite selection of puncheurs. He wasn't able to follow the move of Edmondson, and could only manage 8th in the sprint to the line. Still, a decent result for the young Norwegian.