CyclingQuotes.com Gallopin takes third at Brabantse Pijl after 18km chase

BRABANTSE PIJL

RACE PROFILE

LOTTO-DSTNY

TONY GALLOPIN

16.04.2014 @ 20:38 Posted by Emil Axelgaard

After a strong showing in the Flemish classics, Tony Gallopin was one of the favourites for today's Brabantse Pijl but a diastrous puncture seemed to have ruined his race 25km from the finish. After a fabulous chase effort, however, he was back in the peloton just 7km from the line and still had enough left in the tank to take 3rd.

Philippe Gilbert has won the Brabantse Pijl today. He sprinted faster than Michael Matthews in Overijse. Tony Gallopin took a nice third place. Early in the race six riders got in the lead: Quemeneur, Pozzo, Brandle, Cecchinel, Williams and Reijnen. They got a maximal advantage of six and a half minute.

With over 70 kilometers to go Jurgen Van den Broeck decided to open the race. Together with Julien Vermote, Pieter Serry and Julien Alaphilippe he tried to bridge the gap to the six leaders. But when entering the two last laps it was over for the four chasers.

The tempo kept going up. After several attacks ten riders got some space, one of them was Tosh Van der Sande. Also Leukemans and Gerrans were part of the group. Gilbert was aware of the danger and jumped from the peloton to the front. Eventually it was all for nothing and it came back together at eleven kilometers from the end.

About 30 riders began the final kilometer together. The race would end with a group sprint. Philippe Gilbert won that sprint, Matthews got second and Gallopin third.

Lotto Belisol aimed for a podium place. With the third place of Tony Gallopin the team can look back with satisfaction. More was probably not possible for the Frenchman. At 25 kilometers from the end Gallopin had to chase after a puncture. He only joined the group with seven kilometers to go.

“Considering the race developments I’m very satisfied with my third place," he said. "I had a puncture at 25 kilometers from the finish. On the same place of the course as last year. Honestly, I thought my race was over.

"Because of the succession of hills the race never stopped. I had to return from behind the team cars, but eventually I could pass one group after another and that way I could take my place back in front. Thanks to the teammates I joined the first group just before the last climb, not a moment too early.”

“When I joined the peloton I still wanted to try to set a good result. In the sprint I had to give away about ten meters to winner Gilbert and Matthews, but considering the chase I had done the third place was the highest possible result. But still hat's off for the teammates.

"Everyone did what was expected of him. I thought we were good and with Van den Broeck who opened the race and Van der Sande who joined a break we always had someone in front.”

“With the Walloon classics in mind I chose to take some rest after the Tour of Flanders. I could use this Brabantse Pijl as last step-up to the next races.

I’m especially curious to see how far I can come in a race like Liège-Bastogne-Liège where all toppers stand at the start. I definitely have got the motivation and the necessary confidence after my third place today.”

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