ProTeam Lionel Taminiaux finishes 4th in Elfstedenrace
The riders experienced firsthand how windy it can be in Friesland during today’s Elfstedenrace. Right from the start, the peloton was split into echelons. “It was incredibly fast,” said Lionel Taminiaux. “In the first two hours, we averaged 50 kilometers per hour.”
The peloton broke apart early on, and a group of 15 riders took off. “Alec (Segaert, ed.) and I were in the second group, but fortunately, we were able to stay within 25 seconds of the first group. When everything came back together, it split again. This time, I managed to make the jump to the front. Unfortunately, Alec didn’t, as he had been doing more work to keep the gap small.”
With 25 kilometers to go, three riders attacked, including eventual winner Taco van der Hoorn. “I could still bridge to them, but it cost a lot of energy. When van der Hoorn went for it with a kilometer to go, I was at my limit. We didn’t really work well together in the group behind to try and catch him.”
“I was still hoping for a podium, but when we sprinted, I felt my best was already gone. Fourth is a frustrating place, but at the same time, I’m happy with my form. Knowing I can still compete for results at the end of the season keeps the motivation high.”
Picture: PhotoNews
