Matti Breschel used yesterday's Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen as his final preparation for the Worlds. The Dane rode an aggressive race and even though he failed to come away with a result, he was pleased to have shown growing condition.

Yesterday Tinkoff-Saxo took on the 186 kilometer long Belgian one-day race Koolskamp Kampionschap, also known as Kampionschap van Vlaandern. Matti Breschel was in the long-lasting breakaway with nine other riders including top sprinter André Greipel but in spite of a solid effort from the Dane, the race was concluded in a bunch sprint and French victory.

Tinkoff-Saxo’s experienced Dane joined forces with nine other riders in the early break a third in to the race. However, the escapees were never allowed a promising gap, which constantly hovered around one minute. During the final 25 kilometers, the breakaway riders started attacking each other but they miraculously kept the gap up to just below one minute. On the final lap of 12 kilometers, the peloton really pushed the pace but Breschel didn’t forfeit that easily and launched a late attack to split up the group. The sprinter teams were working hard in the bunch to reel in the last standing escapees and they succeeded with two kilometers remaining.

In the hectic sprint, Arnaud Demare (FDJ) was the fastest and took the win.

“It was a hectic race and after 60 kilometers, I managed to get in the break. Eventually, the group kept getting smaller after we started attacking each other but ultimately we were caught two kilometers to go. Now, that I couldn’t win I’m happy to know that it was good training before the World’s next week. Now, I’m going home for some final preparations and we’ll see how far I can take it“, said Breschel after the race.