After the Classic Brugge-De Panne, the Men’s program of Team dsm-firmenich PostNL returned to action today at the E3 Saxo Classic. Under rainy conditions, a prolonged battle ensued before a group managed to break away. Following a fast start, with more than 50 kilometers covered in the first hour, Niklas successfully joined the breakaway comprising ten riders. However, the peloton kept the escapees within reach, ensuring that the gap never exceeded four minutes. Niklas demonstrated strength and managed to hold on for a while even when the big favorites bridged across. He had to let go on the Oude Kwaremont, maintaining his own pace until the finish line and leading the team home after a challenging day in Belgium!
Speaking after the race, Märkl said: “Our goal today was to be featured in the breakaway, to get a little head start for when the action would kick off. It took more than 50 kilometers for a group to go clear, and I had to dig deep to bridge across but managed to get in there. We were a group of ten at the front, which put us in a favorable position for the remainder of the race. I felt quite good throughout the day, and we only got caught on the Paterberg. On the Kwaremont, I narrowly missed joining the group by a few meters and had to chase hard. I had nothing left in the final kilometers, but I am still quite happy with my shape and the race today. With a few adjustments, I believe I can further improve on this terrain and aim for better results in the future.”