Antwan Tolhoek will start tomorrow’s time trial in the Tour of California as the number four of the general classification. In the third stage, both he and Neilson Powless were dropped of well by the team in the last kilometres. It’s the first time in the Dutchman’s career that he’ll race as a protected rider. 

“I’ve enjoyed today immensely, just like yesterday’s stage, Tolhoek said enthusiastically. “All day long, the boys helped me very well. Tom Leezer stayed with me all day, but Floris de Tier, Maarten Wynants, Sepp Kuss and Neilson Powless also helped me. In the end, Neilson and I tried to jump to the escapees, but the wind made it too difficult.”

Sports director Frans Maassen had seen a long race with a difficult final. “Up until then, the race was controlled well. When the final started, the peloton thinned out quickly. Yet, Antwan tried to jump away on the last climbs.”

Tomorrow, a time trial of more than 34 kilometres  - from San José to Morgan Hill - awaits. “Tolhoek and Powless will have to go full throttle”, Maassen concluded.