In the Eleven Cities Round, Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X) was able to make the victory gesture for the first time this season. The Norwegian Viking held off the emerging Jarne Van der Paar (Lotto-Dstny). A crash with Gerben Thijssen marred the final in Bruges.
In recent years, the Eleven Cities Tour has always resulted in a royal sprint. Last year, Philipsen left Ewan and Jakobsen behind.
But because the Bruges one-day race has been moved 5 weeks ahead on the cycling calendar, we had to look for big sprint guns. Because almost all of them have traveled to the Giro.
Gerben Thijssen was thus labeled top favorite. But a fall 2 kilometers from the finish ruined his sprint plan.
The crash left the peloton in pieces. A dozen riders raced to the finish.
Uno-X was outnumbered by 3 pawns. Leader Alexander Kristoff sat in a seat and held off the emerging Jarne Van der Paar.
A Norwegian primal scream could be heard for miles. No wonder, because it was almost a year ago for Kristoff that he was able to roar victory again.
Result Eleven Cities Round (1.1) 1. Alexander Kristoff (Noo) 2. Jarne Van de Paar 3. Pierre Barbier (Fra) 4. Simon Dehairs 5. Laurenz Rex 6. Warre Vangheluwe 7. Oded Kogut (Isr) 8. Itamar Einhorn (Isr ) 9. Tord Gudmestad (Noo) 10. Jake Stewart (GBr)
Reactions after the Eleven Cities Round:
Alexander Kristoff was over the moon with his first victory of the year. “I had to wait a while for that victory this year. But today it finally happened.”
In the classics the Norwegian was quite invisible. “I was okay in the run-up to the classics, but I got sick in the Tirreno. I didn’t feel well until Paris-Roubaix.”
“Now the condition is in order. I will ride many more races in May and hopefully more victories will follow.”
Lotto-Dstny sprinter Jarne Van de Paar won the GP Monseré 2 months ago. In Bruges today he came up a bit short.
“Of course I would have preferred to win today,” said the number 2. “I was perfectly positioned.”
“But Kristoff started his sprint very strongly. I tried to pass him, but unfortunately I didn’t succeed.”