Last year Belkin completely dominated the Tour of Hainan but this year the team has had a much harder time. Today only two of its riders finished in the front group on stage 5, with sports director Michiel Elijzen admitting that the team is simply not good enough at the moment.

Belkin Pro Cycling TEAM’s Michiel Elijzen drew a painful conclusion on Friday at China’s Tour of Hainan. 

“We’re just not good enough. Today showed that,” said the Sports Director after the fifth stage won by Andrea Palini (Lampre-Merida). 

“We needed to tackle the first climb of the week and only two of our men were able to maintain themselves at the front.” 

The Belkin Pro Cycling TEAM won all nine stages plus the overall in Hainan last year, but this year the team only bagged one stage victory until now. Up against WorldTour teams Lampre-Merida and Astana on the Chinese island, the men in green and black only managed to win the opening stage with Moreno Hofland. 

Elijzen said, “It will be difficult to win again.” 
 

Palini of team Lampre-Merida won Friday’s stage in Sanya and Belkin’s Nick van der Lijke crossed the line in sixth place. 

“There was a lot of rain today. More than I’ve ever seen before,” Elijzen explained. 

“After 20 kilometres, a breakaway of five was formed. The gap didn’t become very big, though, never over four minutes. On the final climb of the day, the group was caught. Sixteen men were left at the front after the hill. Nick and Tom Leezer were there, but the rest was dropped, unfortunately.”