For the second year in a row, a rider of Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux climbed on the second step of the podium in the Tour of Drenthe (1.1, 13/03). This classic of almost 200 kilometer between Assen and Hoogeveen was the first race of the World Team’s Dutch calendar this Sunday.
A trio escaped in the beginning, with the riders directed by Frederik Veuchelen staying united in the peloton to approach the seven cobble sections in the first race half. Kévin Van Melsen then took the lead of the bunch to reduce the advantage.
The final was opened during the second of five passages on the Col du VAM (0.4km at 4.6%) in the final 100 kilometer. The first echelon in the race, with Hungarian rider Barnabás Peák caught the escapees and raced with an advantage of one minute on the first chasing group.
In the final race hour, Barnabás Peák reacted to the multiple attacks of for example the quartet of Jumbo-Visma. Behind Van Gestel, who attacked in the final, Peák won the sprint for second place in a group of five, repeating what Andrea Pasqualon did in the previous edition. Gerben Thijssen was the fastest of the chasing group and concluded the top fifteen.
« After celebrating the victories of Biniam Girmay and Alexander Kristoff in my first races with the team, I received the opportunity to step on the podium today. This Tour of Drenthe was particularly difficult, because in addition to the cobble sections and the Col du VAM we had to battle against the wind. Every kilometer costed energy to make the selection. In the final I had confidence in my fast legs. I'm a happy second, because Van Gestel showed several times that he was the strongest. With the Performance Team we determined that March would be an important month for me, so I'm happy to deliver according to the plan. After Gerben Thijssen's fourth place last week in the GP Monseré, I'm looking forward to accompany him in our next races, Nokere Koerse and the Bredene Koksijde Classic, two races we appreciate much. »
