Jesper Asselman was Holland's hero of the day. The 25-year-old grabbed the white leader's jersey in the Eneco Tour after his raid with Belgian Gijs Van Hoecke. He made headlines exactly one year after the launch of his team Roompot Oranje Peloton.
One year ago to this day Roompot Oranje Peloton was launched in Breda. In the same location Jesper Asselman was awarded the white leader's jersey in the Eneco Tour.
Asselman secured his lead by going in the early breakaway for the second day in a row. Eager to collect the jersey, he joined forces with Gijs Van Hoecke (Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise) after only two kilometres. Van Hoecke took the Primus Checkpoints, Asselman gained nine valuable seconds in the Golden Kilometre.
"We had a plan", said the Dutchman. "[Sports direcor] Michael Boogerd proposed to make a jump inside the Golden Kilometre. I jokingly replied I'd just go for the early breakaway again. It's amazing it actually worked out that way."
"It's surreal I'm sitting here in this white jersey, leading a WorldTour race. Together with my roommate Berden De Vries I had figured out what would happen if I took those nine bonification seconds, but I didn't dare to dream it would actually work out this way. I've only been a pro for eight months."
Roompot Oranje Peloton has so far failed to get a win this season, but Asselman's white jersey is a redeeming factor. "This year we have shown ourselves many times. We're just going to keep working hard to get that victory."
"Will I keep the jersey tomorrow? It will be a very tough ask with so many quick guys. I can't have Greipel or Viviani in the top-two. But I'm definitely not going to attack again", said Asselman, who describes himself as a rider for the spring classics.
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