Building on a strong opening weekend, Team dsm-firmenich PostNL committed to setting up a sprint on Monday afternoon with Fabio Jakobsen as their fast finisher. Through some good teamwork throughout the day, before strong riding in the finale, the team could position Jakobsen to go for the sprint; who then took a solid seventh place at the line.
It was a slower day in the bunch as they took on the longest stage of the race, with 230 kilometres from Piacenza to Torino on the menu. With no real breakaway of sorts, it was important to stay focused throughout the afternoon, with Team dsm-firmenich PostNL riding well together as a bubble as the kilometres progressed. Keeping their powder dry, the team moved up en masse as they entered the final 30 kilometres and the sprint preparation phase began. The team’s climbing cohort kept the sprint group safe, dropping them off inside the final five kilometres at the head of the peloton. Nils Eekhoff then set the pace before things became chaotic in the peloton with some crashes. Team dsm-firmenich PostNL managed to avoid them but had to switch over to the other side of the road, with John Degenkolb and then Bram Welten drilling the pace underneath the flamme rouge, before dropping Jakobsen in a place where he could sprint from. Maintaining his cool, Jakobsen managed to move himself around some others in sight of the line, but unfortunately just couldn’t squeeze out of a gap to the left-side, ultimately coming out of the wheels with around 50 metres to go, taking seventh place at the finish.
Speaking at the finish Jakobsen said: “It was a bit of a rollercoaster in the finale with everyone looking for gaps. I stuck with the guys and I think we did a good first sprint here teamwork wise and they positioned me so I was in the first five wheels around the last corner. In the end I wasn’t super close to winning, but I’ve also really been struggling the past few days. Today gives confidence though. It’s a strong sprinting field here, you can expect that in the Tour but I think today showed that we can definitely compete here in the sprints.”
Team dsm-firmenich PostNL coach Matt Winston added: “I think the guys showed real commitment to the lead-out to bring Fabio into the best position possible for the sprint today. We did a really nice job, stayed switched on and safe during the day and in the end Fabio was in the bubble to make his sprint. I’m happy with how we approached this final and we will build on this for the coming sprints.”
