Resilient Team dsm-firmenich PostNL take 2nd at LBL with an attacking Romain Bardet ride

Rounding out an Ardennes campaign that has unfortunately been blighted by bad luck, Team dsm-firmenich PostNL showed resilience and character today, and bounced back with a brilliant performance taking a Monument podium at Liège – Bastogne – Liège with Romain Bardet.

After a fight in the early part of the race the team achieved their first goal by being represented in the break, with Enzo Leijnse making the eight rider move. The rest of the squad stayed safe in the bunch and rallied around Bardet and Kevin Vermaerke, riding well as a group as the kilometres ticked down. Initially holding onto a four minute advantage, the gap to the breakaway tumbled and was inside one minute at around 100 kilometre to go, where a crash split the bunch. Bardet and Martijn Tusveld made the front group but unfortunately the rest of the team were caught up. A fast following 30 kilometres saw a big fight between the two main groups but things eventually regrouped, with Bardet and Vermaerke representing Team dsm-firmenich PostNL in the peloton.

Heading into the famous ascent of La Redoute it was clear that Pogacar would make an attack and he just did that, ultimately riding solo to the victory. Behind, Bardet dug deep and made it into an initial selection of around six riders which soon then grew as the pace dropped. Multiple moves followed before Bardet went on the attack himself, going clear as part of a chasing quartet. In the meantime, things swelled behind with Vermaerke’s group returning as they approached the last classified climb. On the ascent Bardet gave it his all and stamped on the pedals, cresting the climb with around a five second advantage on the new group of chasers.

It was a tense battle over the last ten kilometres as the chase group came closer through numerous attacks before they would slow down when things regrouped. Bardet just kept up his own strong tempo, giving everything he could and eventually the proverbial elastic snapped. Pushing it to the line, Bardet afforded himself a smile as he took a brilliant second place with Team dsm-firmenich PostNL; his best ever result in a Monument. Behind, Vermaerke kept fighting too and came home amongst the chasing “peloton” after a tenacious ride all day.

Speaking after the race a reflective Bardet expressed: “In cycling you try hard and spend maybe 90 percent of the time training in the shadows. We know that everyone in the team is working hard and giving their best so I always trust the process. We have to make a lot of sacrifices to be at this level but it I think it is also good to then be able to share in those moments together when we get the results we are aiming for. Today the guys rode really well and we were where we wanted to be. On La Redoute it was about the legs and I followed a counter attack, before giving it my all on Roche-aux-Faucons. I knew it would be difficult in the end to stay away due to the headwind, but we also knew that there weren’t many teams left with numbers to chase. It was mostly then stop and go with the attacks in the peloton, so I just tried to focus on my own efforts and gave everything to the line. I’m really happy with the second place and it is a nice confidence boost ahead of what’s to come.”

Team dsm-firmenich PostNL coach Phil West added: “It was a lovely day out in the Ardennes and a fantastic race for us in the end. We made a good plan to be really proactive in the race, always try and search for the moments to go forward, taking the initiative rather than waiting. With around 100 kilometres to go there was a big crash coming into quite a key moment so it was pretty hectic still. Fortunately, Romain was still in front and Kevin was in the chasing group. In the end we came into La Redoute in the position where we wanted to be, and on the climb it was full-gas. From there, Romain was able to anticipate over the top with Healy and then it was on race craft, being involved and going for it. I think it was really good teamwork from the guys today and it’s nice to execute a race like this and get a good result.”