After yesterday’s battle against the clock, the first road stage of this year’s Baloise Belgium Tour was on the menu today. The 184.2-kilometer stage featured some hills in the first part, but the remainder was pancake flat, setting the stage for a showdown among the sprinters. The breakaway was caught early, and the peloton approached the finishing circuit together. The pace picked up through the golden kilometer, creating a hectic atmosphere in the final ten kilometers. Team dsm-firmenich PostNL riders did a good job riding together throughout the day but lost each other in the final kilometers. They regrouped as they entered the final kilometer. John Degenkolb made a strong effort to bring Fabio Jakobsen into position, but Jakobsen lacked the final kick and crossed the line just outside the top 10.
Jakobsen commented: “I lost John and Bram a bit in the final entering the finishing town, and when we found each other, it was already the final kilometer. John did a really good pull, but it was too much for me to get into the mix today. Overall, the feeling is okay being back in my first race, and if we stay together better next time, we’ll be in the mix in the coming days.”
