The final and hardest stage of this year’s Tour of Slovakia began with an explosive start, as a large breakaway formed before the steep slopes of Vrsatec. Bart Lemmen ensured Team Visma | Lease a Bike was represented in the twelve-man group, but already on the second passage of the climb, the team stepped on the gas.

A major shake-up in the peloton followed, as Niklas Behrens put his power to good use on the Vrsatec, reducing the front group to fewer than 30 riders. The breakaway was also caught in the frenzy, and on the third and final passage of the tough hill, Cian Uijtdebroeks even launched an attack himself.

The Belgian was joined by Paul Double, but the duo soon sat up to wait for their teammates in the group behind. In the new group of favorites, six Team Visma | Lease a Bike riders were present, and they worked to keep the pace high heading into the decisive final climb.

Here, Bart Lemmen was the only rider able to follow Double, with Thomas Gloag just behind. Uijtdebroeks and Tijmen Graat also followed within a minute of the leading duo, but in the final kilometer Lemmen had to let Double go. The Brit won both the stage and the overall classification, with Lemmen taking second in both, while Gloag completed the podium in third.

“We really tried today,” sports director Sierk Jan de Haan said after the stage. “On the steep climb, Cian attacked as planned, but Paul Double was already on his wheel. We decided not to continue with just those two in the valley, since we had more guys just behind, so we paced toward the last climb instead.”

”On the last climb, Tijmen and Menno Huising attacked right from the bottom to make it hard. After that, Bart responded to the attack of Double, but he was so strong, so he also dropped Bart. We would have loved to win, but we have to be satisfied with the team effort today,” added Sierk Jan de Haan.