LottoNL-Jumbo rider Moreno Hofland finished second in the final stage of the Post Danmark Rundt Nord today. The 175-kilometre stage was won by Phil Bauhaus of team Bora - Argon 18 and the overall classification by Michael Valgren of Team Tinkoff.

The flat stage had a super fast start with plenty of breakaways. Finally, Tom Leezer escaped and formed a strong leading group of seven that included the Dutch riders Lars Boom (Team Astana) and Brian Van Goethem (Team Roompot). The leaders took up to one and a half minutes. With Tom Leezer in the breakaway, the race went according to plan for Team LottoNL-Jumbo.

According to plan

"We were twice in the escape with Tom. So we could save six riders for the final. Today we played the card for Hofland in a bunch sprint," said Sports Director Jan Boven after the finish. "The race went as we had imagined. With two local circuits to go, we took matters in hand and put the sprint train on the front. Everything went well until the last corner. Moreno started the sprint a bit too early with Bauhaus in his wheel. He edged out Moreno on the line."

The sprint train of LottoNL-Jumbo over took the last two remaining riders in the break of the day, Lars Boom (Team Astana) and Alessandro Tonelli (Bardiani - Valvole), and drove through the last curve before the finish.

Timing

"Unfortunately, I did not win! Everything went fine until the last corner, “ said Moreno Hofland. "Dennis went full on from the corner, but Tom Van Asbroeck thought he wasn’t strong enough to keep the speed and went a little too early for him. I had to start my sprint too early. Bauhaus brought up the speed and sprinted off of my rear wheel. I could hold him for a second, but he was still just a little faster. I am satisfied with the sprint train, the only thing we still need to work on is timing. That’s the important last piece of the sprint train, but I think we did a great race today.”