Mad Wurtz Schmidt takes the double in Strijpen
Door Filip DeclerqThe ride through the Flemish Ardennes was won by Mads Würtz Schmidt. The Danish rider is also the overall winner of the Three Days. The Dutchman Piotr Havik was in the final stage second to his countryman Lennard Hofstede. Our compatriots Merlin Decoster and Daan Hoeybreghs complete the Top 5. Hoeybreghs was on the Flemish hills the best climber. He took the mountains jersey to Mol.
Even before the first hill Hoeybreghs Daan went in the attack. He was joined by Simon Larsen, Jan Bart Opsomer, Yuri Leijs and Pascal Ackermann. Later Piotr Havik join. Immediately the signal for the formation Danish Bleu Water to respond. The six were quickly caught up. Hoeybreghs immediately did a second attempt to escape the peloton. A little later there was a nice break away. Along the front of the yellow jersey Schmidt, the second in the standings Rodhe, Goshawk, Kasperkiwicz, Mulder, Hofstede and the Belgians Merlin Decoster, Michael Cools who also fit their compatriot Hoeybreghs.
In full-finals during the last climb of the Valkenberg Hawk threw a bomb. The yellow jersey, Hofstede, Decoster and Hoeybreghs were pipping. The rest of the party was seen. In the last ten kilometers were the Belgians took turns attacking. Hawk brought the five back together again. In the last kilometer Decoster made a last attempt. The rider from Oudenburg quickly took a hundred meters. But when did that diabolical Mads Schmidt Wurtz the double stroke.
After the responses were unanimous that the victory of the Deen is concerned. Merlin Decoster expressed as follows. "The Dane was too strong. There was nothing to get started. When I thought I was the last kilometer to win. In the last corner (300m) I saw the Dane suddenly rolling over me. "Lennard Hofstede also had a reaction. "I'm happy with my performance. Just a little sad that I lost yesterday in Axel my rankings. Without mechanical failure, I was perhaps second in the standings.
"The organizers had high praise for the performance of Thijs De Lange. He became the first Zeeuw in the final standings. Also a good result was put down by Michael Cools. The Meetjeslander was strong in his backyard for the day. "I slipped along with the escape. Initially the intention was to maximize our time to take on the Dane. That did not work. Then I drove in the service of Hawk. During the last climb of the Valkenberg I had to adjust. I had cramps too. Maybe there is no cramps which a better result for me or resident Piotr. "
