Without Sep Vanmarcke and Lars Boom in the line-up, Belkin had an opportunistic approach to yesterday's Dwars door Vlaanderen. Jos Van Emden rode an aggressive race but when Moreno Hofland had an off-day, the team left the event empty-handed.

 

The Belkin Pro Cycling Team was unable to get in the mix for the victory Wednesday at Dwars door Vlaanderen in Belgium. Maarten Wynants led Belkin with 11th in the bunch sprint in Waregem behind Niki Terpstra (Omega Pharma-Quick Step), who triumphed thanks to a long solo attack. 

Jos van Emden had a frustrating day in the saddle. The Dutchman was part of the 22-man breakaway, but saw his chances being ruined,

 

“Because there was just no cooperation,” said Van Emden. “Along with a few riders I urged the others to ride along, but it didn’t help.” 

Van Emden decided to attack.

 

“I accelerated on the Valkenberg with 70 kilometres to go, which was way too early, of course, but I was hoping to get the break in motion or to take some of the willing riders with me. Unfortunately it didn’t work. Later on, on the Taaienberg, I got away with seven others, but at that point it was too late. If it had happened earlier, we would have had a chance to stay ahead. All in all, it was a frustrating day. It could have ended much better.” 

  Van Emden didn’t believe in his chances during the beginning of the race.   “My legs were still pretty sore after Milano-Sanremo. I thought that it was going to be nothing, but in the hilly zone I got through it, although I missed a little bit of a punch.” 

 

Sports Director Jan Boven had words of praise for Van Emden and was happy with the way Wynants raced afterwards.   “Jos did very well. Maarten had a bit of bad luck. He sat in the front at the important points, but for him, in order to get in the mix for the victory, the conditions should have been harder. Terpstra, however, was exceptionally strong. My compliments for him.” 

 

Moreno Hofland was unable to fight for the win today. The Dutchman fell ill last week.   “And it turned out that that wasn’t a good preparation,” said the runner-up of Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne and stage-winnner at Paris-Nice. “I had an off-day today.”