Steven Lammertink showed himself during the second stage of the Tour of Norway. The young rider of Team LottoNL-Jumbo made the breakaway after 65 kilometres today, but wasn’t able to stay in front of the peloton. Pieter Weening (Roompot - Oranje Peloton) soloed to the stage victory.

“It went fast during the first part of the stage,” Sports Director Merijn Zeeman said. “The pace was very high. Steven Lammertink was strong to be in that breakaway. He was unlucky because the race leader’s team immediately started to control the race. When the final part of the race came in sight and the other teams started to help the chase, we already knew that they weren’t going to make it.”

Paul Martens

The stage exploded on the final climb of the day afterwards. “Paul Martens gave it all to survive that climb,” Zeeman continued. “He almost succeeded. He was just a little bit too short to stay with the first chasing group. He finished 13th and showed that his form is improving.”

On Friday, the third stage of the Tour of Norway finishes uphill. “That ascent is not as tough as today’s, but it isn’t easy either,” Zeeman added. “Paul Martens will have a chance, but we want to attack another time, as well. The chance that the break is going to make it until the end is bigger than it was today.”