Bennett and Tankink lead LottoNL-Jumbo fight in Poland
George Bennett led home the yellow and black LottoNL-Jumbo team in the sixth stage of the Tour of Poland today. The New Zealander placed 29th behind stage winner Sergio Henao (Sky) in Bukowina Tatrzanska, but the results do not show the effort that he, Bram Tankink and the rest of the team made.
"Like yesterday, it was clear that we hadn't the level for the GC, so that's why we wanted to be really aggressive in the stage and get in the break," Sports Director Mathieu Heijboer said.
"We wanted to be active, aggressive and show ourselves. The only way was to be in the break and hope it would go to the end, but that was not to be today. If you look results alone, it doesn't show, but I liked the way we raced.”
Attacks
The first part of the race was at full speed. LottoNL-Jumbo missed the move, so the team went to the front and began pulling. Bert-Jan Lindeman, George Bennett and Bram Tankink followed that up with attacks.
"It appeared that we had 20 riders free with Bram and George in it. That was good for us and that was the goal of the day for us," added Heijboer.
"However, there were so many strong climbers, so for that reason the peloton was controlling and not letting it get over three minutes."
Tankink in control
It fell apart and came together a few times, World Champion Michal Kwiatkowski (Etixx-Quick Step) was active.
"I missed the big move yesterday by sleeping in the group, so today, I had to be in the move," Tankink said.
"The race was so hard. It was all uphill or downhill. One moment, Kwiatkowski rode away. I bridged to him, he said he was dead, and I had to go alone.”
He went solo and held one minute and some change over his chasers.
"I killed myself with that. The race was so hard. My average watts were high, 290 when they caught me. I don't think I've even done a ride like not even in a Tour de France stage.
"I made my move. I didn't just set in the peloton. At least I tried. I needed it."
Tomorrow
Rick Flens and Martijn Keizer are aiming for a top 10 or 15 tomorrow in the individual time trial.
"But they had to race all day," added Heijboer. "They'll have to recover, sleep well and eat well.
“We are going to take the TT seriously, it's not just the end of the stage race, for those two guys, it's an important day, they put a lot of work into time trialling this year and will put 100% into tomorrow's stage."
"Like yesterday, it was clear that we hadn't the level for the GC, so that's why we wanted to be really aggressive in the stage and get in the break," Sports Director Mathieu Heijboer said.
"We wanted to be active, aggressive and show ourselves. The only way was to be in the break and hope it would go to the end, but that was not to be today. If you look results alone, it doesn't show, but I liked the way we raced.”
Attacks
The first part of the race was at full speed. LottoNL-Jumbo missed the move, so the team went to the front and began pulling. Bert-Jan Lindeman, George Bennett and Bram Tankink followed that up with attacks.
"It appeared that we had 20 riders free with Bram and George in it. That was good for us and that was the goal of the day for us," added Heijboer.
"However, there were so many strong climbers, so for that reason the peloton was controlling and not letting it get over three minutes."
Tankink in control
It fell apart and came together a few times, World Champion Michal Kwiatkowski (Etixx-Quick Step) was active.
"I missed the big move yesterday by sleeping in the group, so today, I had to be in the move," Tankink said.
"The race was so hard. It was all uphill or downhill. One moment, Kwiatkowski rode away. I bridged to him, he said he was dead, and I had to go alone.”
He went solo and held one minute and some change over his chasers.
"I killed myself with that. The race was so hard. My average watts were high, 290 when they caught me. I don't think I've even done a ride like not even in a Tour de France stage.
"I made my move. I didn't just set in the peloton. At least I tried. I needed it."
Tomorrow
Rick Flens and Martijn Keizer are aiming for a top 10 or 15 tomorrow in the individual time trial.
"But they had to race all day," added Heijboer. "They'll have to recover, sleep well and eat well.
“We are going to take the TT seriously, it's not just the end of the stage race, for those two guys, it's an important day, they put a lot of work into time trialling this year and will put 100% into tomorrow's stage."
