Maciej Bodnar is known as the reliable domestique who keeps Peter Sagan protected from the classics and played a huge part in the Slovakian's win at the 2012 Gent-Wevelgem. Today, however, he got a chance to go for some personal glory in the Driedaagse van De Panne and he grabbed it with both hands when he became a slightly surprising winner of the final time trial.

Cannondale Pro Cycling has doubled their wins at Driedaagse De Panne. The Green Machine claimed the second half stage of the final day of the race. Polish time trial champion Maciej Bodnar gave a powerful performance and was the fastest rider on two wheels during the 14 km ITT with a time of 17’51”. Jan Barta of Netapp-Endura came in second while FDJ’s David Boucher came in third.

An experienced rider, Bodnar is one of Cannondale Pro Cycling’s most reliable domestiques. At 28 years-old, he is also a team veteran. Since becoming a professional in 2008, Bodnar has had five major career wins including three national championships and the team time trials at Giro d’Italia and Settimana Internazionale in 2010. At 2012 in Driedaagse De Panne, Bodnar came in fifth at the ITT and the third in GC.

“I’m really proud of this victory and also a little surprised,” said Bodnar. “For a rider like me it’s not usual to stay on the highest stage of the podium, and when happens it’s always awesome. We’re in Belgium to help Sagan, and we’re happy to do this, but in De Panne we had a chance to search some personal glory and I took it.

“Doing a good performance was my aim since the beginning of the race. I had really good feeling since the first moment of today’s stage. And when you feel your legs pushing hard, you become more and more confident. This win is also the result hard work on this speciality. You can’t invent something out of nothing. I’ve been working since the winter with our coaches, doing dedicated training and working on positioning and aerodynamics. This is the outcome.”

“I wish I could have a toast with my teammates, but tomorrow morning we have to focus on a new goal. The Ronde Van Vlaanderen is coming, and we want to do the best we can to carry Peter to the win. How we performed during the week, and our attitude at each stage shows we have very good condition. We have to chase this dream,” added Bodnar.

In addition to Bodnar’s exciting win, Cannondale Pro Cycling saw other key moments today including Kristijan Koran taking seventh place in the ITT. This is also Cannondale Pro Cycling’s sixth win in 2014.