Another new month starts in 2024, and with it the PT comes back in Nederlands for the Ronde Van Nederland, a race meant for the punchers and the sprinters who can hang tough on the hills! This year's route sees a change from the previous editions, with last year's Stage 3 moved forward to Stage 2 while a brand new profile will be raced on Stage 3.
No breakaway attempts happen for the initial kilometers. Bester attacks just before the first KOM, presumably in search of maximum points.
He indeed gets those points, with Matsumoto and Giuletti picking up the rest.
The break is caught soon after.
Another break forms then - Blanca Pareja, Fedorov, Matsumoto.
Matsumoto wins the second KOM to go into the lead of that classification. Blanca Pareja and Fedorov come through after that. Their lead is 5'6".
Matsumoto also wins the third KOM. The order is reversed behind him.
Fedorov wins the first intermediate sprint ahead of Matsumoto and Blanca Pareja. Their lead is up to 6 minutes.
The order is the same at the next KOM.
40 km to go. Puma, Rabobank and Oxxo are chasing in the pack. The gap is down to 2 minutes.
The break is caught with 13 km to go. The peloton is still together.
Rabobank are the only team with a proper leadout with 3 km to go. Gerts and Van der Kooij are leading out Grosu.
It's still Rabobank at the front with a kilometer left.
Van der Lijke went early and leads with 700 meters to go. Grosu is just behind. Kemboi is behind with Halvorsen on the far right.
It's Van der Lijke from Grosu and Halvorsen at the front. Ruiz is still hanging in there. 400 meters to go.
Grosu into the lead with 200 meters left. Siric is making up ground on the right with Kanter on the left.
Grosu still leads inside the final 100 meters. Kemboi and Banaszek have moved up into the next positions.
Banaszek closing in super fast on Grosu with barely any road left!
Banaszek with the fast finish takes the win.
Rui Oliveira with the faster finish comes out of nowhere to take 2nd. Grosu has to be content with 3rd.
Kanter takes 4th ahead of Pidcock. Groves is 6th with Kemboi in 7th.
Nommela, Mohoric and Lopez complete the Top 10.
Today's winner - Alan Banaszek.
Order in the GC is the same at the top as the stage result. Banaszek also leads the Points with Matsumoto at the top of the KOM. Pidcock leads the U25 classification.
