Fresh off of Friday’s brilliant stage win with Tobias Lund Andresen, Team dsm-firmenich PostNL were aiming for more of the same on Saturday’s stage and another potential sprint opportunity; albeit with a flatter finale this time.
The team worked well as a unit to stay safe and they helped to reel in the early breakaway, with some good team riding. However, once they were caught multiple counter attacks followed and a new three rider group went clear. Building up a gap of around 40 seconds, the peloton were hesitant as who should chase and the kilometres ticked by as they entered the technical local lap circuit. Team dsm-firmenich PostNL committed to the chase, initially with little help, and began to bring the gap down but it would be too late in the end. Krijnsen held on to take the win after he attacked at the bell, holding off Stensby from the move, while Tobias Lund Andresen showed great speed to get up and win the bunch sprint for third behind them, after a good lead-out by the squad.
Team dsm-firmenich PostNL coach Roy Curvers said: “On paper, today was one for a bunch sprint but with a hill-zone and a really technical final. We invested in the chase with Warren and Alex, who did a good job, but we didn’t get a lot of help from other teams initially. In the end two guys out of the break stayed away to fight it out for the win. Behind, we nailed the final like we planned to do and Tobias won the sprint of the bunch, but unfortunately it was only for third place today.”