As usual, the 198 kilometer long Dutch cobblestone race Ronde van Drenthe was an elimination race in the peloton chasing a front group on narrow roads and wet cobbles in the hillier landscape of Holland. Today the breakaway group was strong enough to make it all the way.

Entering the final 15 kilometers of the race, the lead group of five riders had a one minute gap to a chase group and 1.30 minutes to a diminished peloton trying to bridge the gap to the front. But the escapees were fighting very hard to make it to the finish line and the big effort paid off. In the small group sprint, Edward Theuns (Topsport Vlaanderen) was the fastest and took the win.

CULT Energy Pro Cycling DS André Steensen reports:

“Naturally, I had hoped for more and a better result than this. However, Michael Carbel and Mads Pedersen, our young guns, both had a puncture just as the peloton split up and they were deprived of a spot in the chase group. Now, we’re looking forward to better luck and a better result tomorrow."