Premier Tech Riders Simon Clarke and Tom van Asbroeck Excel at Dwars Door Het Hageland
Israel — Premier Tech has once again demonstrated their strength in Belgium as Simon Clarke claimed fifth place and Tom van Asbroeck secured ninth place at Dwars Door Het Hageland. Despite scorching temperatures reaching over thirty degrees Celsius, the IPT team performed admirably, tackling challenging terrain with determination.
Clarke and van Asbroeck found themselves in the front group for a significant portion of the race. However, van Asbroeck had an untimely mechanical issue that left Clarke isolated. Nonetheless, Clarke showcased his tactical prowess and managed to secure fifth place in the final push to the finish line. Van Asbroeck, who fought his way back to the second group, showcased his strength and claimed a commendable ninth place finish.
Reflecting on his performance, Clarke expressed his satisfaction with his form and engagement in the race. Despite not having competed since the Giro in May, he felt prepared and motivated to perform well at Dwars Door Het Hageland.
“Today was a really good day… I had some good Belgian teammates who helped guide me and put me in the right position at the right time… I enjoy riding on the dirt roads, so the parcours was a lot of fun for me, I really enjoyed it,” Clarke shared.
Van Asbroeck, although disappointed with not being able to finish higher due to his flat tire, expressed satisfaction with his performance and the collective efforts of the team.
“It was a really hard day because of the heat… We raced really well as a team. We can’t complain about how we raced, we were aggressive… If I’d have stayed in that group I think a podium was definitely possible… We’re having a lot of fun racing aggressively, and pretty soon we’ll get the results we deserve,” van Asbroeck shared.
Sports Director Dror Pekatch commended the team’s hard work and resilience, especially in the face of adversity.
“We lined up today with a very strong team, and three options for the finish… Unfortunately, Tom had an untimely puncture, but Clarkey made it to the front group and rode a great race… We’re super proud of the boys for this great race,” Pekatch said.
