Team NetApp-Endura scored one of their best results of 2014 when young British sprint Scoor Thwaites sprinted to 3rd in the first stage of the Three Days of West-Flanders. Originally set to ride in support of Blaz Jarc, things got messed up in the hectic finale and the Brit was quick to take his own chance.

Scott Thwaites sprinted to third place in the first stage of the short Belgian tour “Three Days of West Flanders”. In the hectic finale, the 24-year-old Classics specialist from Team NetApp – Endura only had to concede defeat to Danny van Poppel (Trek) and Danilo Napolitano (Wanty). There were no changes at the top of the general classification. After yesterday’s prologue, Jan Barta is still in ninth place with a 17-second deficit behind the leader Gert Jõeäär (Cofidis).

“Today’s race to the finish line was very technical. The plan for today was actually to prepare the sprint for Blaz. But in the hectic finale our guys lost each other and had to improvise in the final kilometers. Scott managed to get into a good position on the home stretch and sprinted to a third-place finish. This is an excellent result for our Classics team,” Sport Director Christian Pömer said after the race.

"I'm really happy with my 3rd place. I was disappointed with my prologue yesterday and was unsure of my form but today I felt really strong and with the help of the team I was able to position well and take 3rd in the chaotic sprint,” Scott Thwaites commented on his first podium finish of the season.

A five-man breakaway group formed soon after the race got underway in Brugge. The field let the group pull away until the first major challenge of the day, the infamous Oude Kwaremont from the Tour of Flanders. Not only were the breakaway riders caught on the climb, it also caused the field to disband into several groups. Team NetApp – Endura was almost completely represented in the lead group of around 60 riders and was able to keep all of its options open for the finale. Six strong riders launched a promising attack from this group. Scott Thwaites was one of these escapees, emphasizing his good form. Still, the breakaway attempt was neutralized during the final laps, resulting in a mass sprint.

The most challenging section of the three-day tour awaits riders on Sunday, the final day of the tour. The cyclists will ride 186 kilometers from Nieuwpoort to Ichtegem. After conquering four climbs, they must then complete three final laps of 11.5 kilometers each before crossing the finish line. Despite the technical profile, the stage is again expected to end in a mass sprint.