ProTeam Van Moer close to first pro victory at Tirreno-Adriatico

What had been announced as a sprint stage finally turned out completely different. An early breakaway of six, including Lotto Soudal rider Brent Van Moer stayed ahead and battled for the stage victory in Lido di Fermo. Eventually, five escapees sprinted for the win. Only the Dane Mads Würtz Schmidt showed to be faster than Brent Van Moer; the 23-year-old Lotto Soudal rider finished second and came close to his first professional victory.

“We knew the breakaway had a chance to succeed today, especially with the technical local course at the end”, reacts Brent Van Moer. “The first thirty kilometres of the stage was full on racing as a lot of guys wanted to be in the break. Tosh Van der Sande, Frederik Frison and I tried to escape and I was happy to be part of the breakaway. The legs felt quite good after yesterday’s tough stage, a very positive sign.”

Six brave riders went up the road: Bakelants, Velasco, Würtz Schmidt, Oliveira, Liepiņš and Lotto Soudal rider Brent Van Moer. The six were never granted an enormous advantage, but the breakaway worked together really well. When the sextet still had over two minutes advantage at twenty kilometres from the finish, the bunch threw in the towel and it became clear the six escapees would battle for the stage.

Brent Van Moer: “The six of us decided to work together really well all day long. The peloton didn’t close in on us that quickly and in the final two laps, we went full gas and it became clear we would stay ahead. On the final slopes, we dropped Liepiņš, probably the fastest of the group. The headwind in the final kilometres discouraged each of us from attacking. For a while, I thought about giving it a go in the final kilometre, but I decided to wait for the sprint and in the end, I am happy I did. I would have liked to be on Würtz Schmidt’s wheel, but I still lack some experience and I let myself be pushed away a bit.”

“Had I been able to start the sprint in the Dane’s wheel, who knows what might have happened… But in the end, I am still happy with second place and it was a nice experience. Tomorrow, I want to give it my all again during the short time trial”, Van Moer concluded.

Image: Photo News.