Sunday’s racing at Tour de Bretagne saw Team dsm-firmenich PostNL’s Development program take on a typical parcours for this race, with lots of short and punchy hills, combined with twisting roads. It was a fast start with lots of attacks before eventually a breakaway went clear, with all of the team back in the peloton. Those ahead worked well together and built up a good lead and it would ultimately be enough for one of them to hold on for the stage win after attacking inside the last 15 kilometres. Back in the peloton, Vlad Van Mechelen was supported by the team an was initially in a good position ahead of the sprint for the remaining podium spots but unfortunately he got blocked against the barriers as the road twisted and he could never fully open up his effort, finishing in tenth place.
Van Mechelen said: “It was a chaotic stage today. In the end a guy from the break stayed away to take the win. That meant we were still sprinting for second place. I still felt good and really wanted to go for it but unfortunately I chose the wrong side in my sprint and the door closed in front of me so I couldn’t go for the podium.”