LottoNL-Jumbo active in eighth stage La Vuelta
LottoNL-Jumbo was on the attack again in Saturday’s eighth stage in the Vuelta a España. Belgian Jesper Stuyven won the sprint of a depleted group in Murcia in a crash-filled stage. Timo Roosen brought the yellow-black of Team LottoNL-Jumbo home in 59th in Murcia.
The profile was downhill from the start, so it was fast from the gun. After one hour, the average speed was more than 51kph. It was attack upon attack to catch the right escape. Eventually six riders escaped pulled clear, with LottoNL-Jumbo rider Tom Asbroeck in the mix. The six got only a maximum of 4'40” because the sprinters teams of Giant-Alpecin and Tinkoff-Saxo controlled the race.
Merijn Zeeman
"Tom was in the right break, the sprint teams controlled the race immediately,” said Sports Director Merijn Zeeman. "It was a big fight to hit the right break. We have dealt with it as a team. Everyone participated. But if Tinkoff and Giant took the control, you know the escape is doomed and actually you know that the stage is over for us. That final climb is just too difficult for our riders. I was surprised by Timo Roosen, who attacked in the final. He's already made nice progression this season as a first-year pro, and he showed it in the finale today. He should just try this and see where it ends, because you never know.“
Timo Roosen
The peloton twice climbed the Alto de la Cresta del Gallo in the closing hour of the 182.5-kilometre stage. During the first ascent, the leading group featuring Asbroeck was caught. During the second climb, Italian Gianluca Brambilla surged free, and was soon joined by Roosen. The pair rode together in the lead of the race, but after a few kilometres, Roosen had to give up.
"After the first climb, I knew how long the climb was because I didn’t know the Cresta del Gallo," Roosen said about the climb in Murcia. "I could have been dropped anonymously, but I opted for the attack because in a race you never know. It was a bit on bluff and a moment later, I had to pass. I am happy because I made progression this year, and also in the Vuelta, I’m feeling still good. But it is still a long race.“
On Sunday, a 168-kilometre stage will run from Torrevieja to Cumbre del Sol Benitatxell, arriving on a mountain of first category.
"Tomorrow is the final climb is very steep and difficult. We will not wait. We'll just attack again, and we'll see how a cow catches a hare,” concluded Sports Director Merijn Zeeman.
The profile was downhill from the start, so it was fast from the gun. After one hour, the average speed was more than 51kph. It was attack upon attack to catch the right escape. Eventually six riders escaped pulled clear, with LottoNL-Jumbo rider Tom Asbroeck in the mix. The six got only a maximum of 4'40” because the sprinters teams of Giant-Alpecin and Tinkoff-Saxo controlled the race.
Merijn Zeeman
"Tom was in the right break, the sprint teams controlled the race immediately,” said Sports Director Merijn Zeeman. "It was a big fight to hit the right break. We have dealt with it as a team. Everyone participated. But if Tinkoff and Giant took the control, you know the escape is doomed and actually you know that the stage is over for us. That final climb is just too difficult for our riders. I was surprised by Timo Roosen, who attacked in the final. He's already made nice progression this season as a first-year pro, and he showed it in the finale today. He should just try this and see where it ends, because you never know.“
Timo Roosen
The peloton twice climbed the Alto de la Cresta del Gallo in the closing hour of the 182.5-kilometre stage. During the first ascent, the leading group featuring Asbroeck was caught. During the second climb, Italian Gianluca Brambilla surged free, and was soon joined by Roosen. The pair rode together in the lead of the race, but after a few kilometres, Roosen had to give up.
"After the first climb, I knew how long the climb was because I didn’t know the Cresta del Gallo," Roosen said about the climb in Murcia. "I could have been dropped anonymously, but I opted for the attack because in a race you never know. It was a bit on bluff and a moment later, I had to pass. I am happy because I made progression this year, and also in the Vuelta, I’m feeling still good. But it is still a long race.“
On Sunday, a 168-kilometre stage will run from Torrevieja to Cumbre del Sol Benitatxell, arriving on a mountain of first category.
"Tomorrow is the final climb is very steep and difficult. We will not wait. We'll just attack again, and we'll see how a cow catches a hare,” concluded Sports Director Merijn Zeeman.
