Timo Roosen won the second stage of the Tour of Fjords today in Norheimsund with a solo attack. The rider of Team LottoNL-Jumbo flew clear 30 kilometres to race and held only a slim two seconds on the sprinting group behind.

"I rode full-gas and it hurts, but it was all worth it," said Roosen. "You know this is a race where you get a chance, and you hope for a good result and to race for the victory."

With 50 kilometres to go, the early breakaway was caught and the final started on a long climb. On top of that, a group of 30 men remained with Team LottoNL-Jumbo’s Lars Boom, Paul Martens and Roosen. Roosen attacked on the descent.

“The speed of the group was high enough so I thought this was the time to try it and make the difference. I entered the descent and fought for every second. You know it can be very close and it also turned out to be close on the finish."

Several teams pursued and the group came closer, but he remained free to for his first professional win after three years with Team LottoNL-Jumbo.

"It was a big relief. Of course you are dreaming about a victory and in some races, you feel very strong and it does not work out. Yesterday, a Belgian won his first professional victory. I saw how beautiful it was and thought immediately, ‘I want that too.’ The fact that it happens a day later is beautiful. " Roosen usually pulls the sprint train for Dylan Groenewegen.

"It is beautiful that I now get the chance and win. You are always happy with a victory in the team and therefore you are training hard. If you are rewarded in this way, that is of course absolutely beautiful.”

‘He matured well’

"This was really beautiful," said Sports Director Merijn Zeeman. "It was incredibly exciting, it was touch and go if he would stay clear. The 18 riders behind Timo tried to close the gap. Lars Boom was sitting there and he did everything he could to disrupt the chase and encouraged Timo, telling him to give it everything.

"Timo works for others and it is beautiful that he is now taking his first win. We knew that he matured and that he could ride a good prologue, but not that he could ride 30 kilometres solo, he smelled the victory and we yelled for him as much as possible."