After Wednesday’s brilliant opening team time trial win, Team dsm-firmenich PostNL set out with the goal of trying to defend the race leader’s jersey on Thursday’s challenging stage – which included the now traditional Tour of Denmark circuit finish in Vejle; with its leg-sapping and steep final climb to the line. Keeping tabs on things from the off, the team rode well as a unit and helped to contribute to the pace setting on the front of the bunch alongside other teams before they entered the hilly circuit. With the breakaway caught the attacks flew from the bunch with the team particularly active, before Sean Flynn and Frank van den Broek made it into a promising move of around eight riders. Working well together the group extended their gap over the ever reducing peloton to around 30 seconds but bad luck struck for the team as Van den Broek suffered a puncture, and having to return to the chasers.
Ahead, Flynn rode a strong and savvy race, while on the final lap Van den Broek tried to launch a counter attack to bridge to the leaders, putting in a valiant solo effort to minimise the time loss in the GC battle. Coming onto the last ascent of the climb, Flynn was well positioned and gave it his all on the stinging slopes, eventually taking a strong sixth place come the line.
Speaking after the stage Flynn said: “The day started fairly calm and Johan and Alex did a great job controlling the breakaway. The race was nervous from a long way out and it really opened up with around 80 kilometres to go. Our plan was to race aggressively and see if we could solidify Frank with a good position in GC. We were executing this well putting myself and Frank in the key move of the day. Unfortunately Frank got a flat tyre leaving me alone in front. I was happy with my shape and was able to fight at the front right down to the end. It was good to see Frank keep on fighting to nearly catch back up to the front on the final lap. I’m looking forward to the next few days racing.”