This Sunday, Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux concluded its 2021 season on the Ronde van Drenthe, in the north of the Netherlands. Andrea Pasqualon, who grabbed the very first podium of the team earlier this year on Le Samyn, crossed the finish line in second place after a solid collective performance, only edged out by breakaway survivor Herregodts (Topsport).
Behind the three fugitives part of the early breakaway, Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux took sole responsibility of the chase, setting the pace on the cobbled sections in the first half of the race and then on the five passages of the Col du VAM in the second half. In addition to the chase, the men led by Aike Visbeek exploded the race by placing Jan Bakelants in a counterattack.
Only Herregodts managed to resist at the front, and he won in Hoogeven after a 15-kilometer solo. Arrived 13 seconds behind the winner, Pasqualon won the sprint of strong peloton of thirty riders which also included Bakelants and Taco van der Hoorn. Pasqualon thus offered the twenty-fifth podium of the team on this final race of the season.
“I continued to train hard with the motivation to end the season with a win. I felt today was my day and the team did everything they could to help me win. We toughened up the race all day and forced the selection. However, we did not receive any help from the other teams so we had all the weight of the pursuit. It’s a shame that I came too late to come away with the win, but I’m proud of my strong sprint and the great team spirit that reigned there, like always during the season."
