Strong team display in Stage 18 breakaway results in good 3rd place with Max Poole

Team dsm-firmenich PostNL’s looked to continue their string of really good results at the Vuelta a España on Thursday, with a stage that looked perfect for another breakaway success. With that in mind for the majority of the peloton, it was an intense start to the stage with attack after attack at the head of the race. Eventually a large group of around 40 managed to go clear, with Pavel Bittner, Chris Hamilton, Tim Naberman and Max Poole all present there for the team.

The gap managed to extend and from over 80 kilometres to go it was obvious that the break would fight it out for the stage come the finish. As a result, it became tactical and a trio attacked from the group. Bittner and Naberman did a great job to keep the pace going in the chasing group as the race charged towards the last categorised climb, where Hamilton helped position Poole before things split up for good. With the trio caught towards the top a group of around 12 riders, including Poole, took on the rolling terrain together. In the finale eventual stage winner Berrade and his teammates were able to play the numerical advantage, with Berrade holding on for the win after a late attack. Poole bided his time and gave it his all in the sprint from the group behind to take a strong fourth place as he crossed the line; after another strong team performance to be active at the front of the bike race.

After the stage the commissaires relegated Miquel in the sprint, so Poole and the team were promoted to third on the day.

Poole said: “It was another crazy La Vuelta day. It was a really big fight for the break and it went on for a long time. In the end it was great for us to have four guys in the move. Pavel and Tim were super to keep the group going and keep the speed up once the trio had nipped off the front; they were really good today. Me and Hamo were there and when it kicked off on the climb we tried to follow. It became a bit more selective over the top and it was just about trying to save energy for the final. It was nice to be in the race and going for the win again, and of course you always want more, but it was a super hard day. How we rode as a team today was great and then in the final we had to ride a bit on feeling and play the games, but I think we can be satisfied with the third place.”

Team dsm-firmenich PostNL coach Phil West added: “It was another tough day. I think these last stages are getting raced really hard because obviously the opportunities are become fewer as we head towards Madrid. It was a big fight at the start, less selective in some places which made the fight bigger, and in the end we had four guys in the big front group. It was a really nice situation. Pavel and Tim did their roles in a really good way so that Max could be in the selection over the last big climb. It was a little bit about waiting for the right moment or gambling for it in the sprint. With the combination of riders in that final group with some strong rouleurs and climbers, it was tricky. Unfortunately Berrade slipped away but I think we played the right tactic in the end and Max did a really good sprint for third. It’s nice to be in the front of the bike race again.”