DEVELOPMENT TEAM PICNIC POSTNL WIN RONDE VAN DE ACHTERHOEK

Photo Credit: Ronde van de Achterhoek

Development Team Picnic PostNL secured a brilliant victory on Sunday afternoon, as Johan Dorussen powered to the win at Ronde van de Achterhoek after a strong team ride.

Aiming to ride proactively as a unit throughout the race, Development Team Picnic PostNL did just that at the Ronde van de Achterhoek on Sunday. From the flag drop the team was sharp on the attacks with Ko Molenaar making the early move. Once his attack was reeled in, the team then kept the tempo up in the peloton and helped to force some splits in the peloton over the dirt and gravel roads that the race is known for. A new group formed out front but the team kept calm and alongside some other squads, reeled in the breakaway on the last short local lap. From there, it was over to the sprint finish where it was important to navigate the hectic run-in. Coming with speed from deep, Dorussen opened up his sprint just as the pace lulled on the front and instantly gained a few metres. Digging deep and holding it to the line, Dorussen could raise his arms aloft to celebrate a brilliant win with Development Team Picnic PostNL. Capping off a great overall team performance, Christiaan van Rees and Thom van der Werff also both finished in the top ten too.

Afterwards a delighted Dorussen expressed: “It was a really hard race, but we worked great as a team. From the start we were jumping with everyone trying to be in the break with Ko eventually getting in for us. Then we focused on being in position for every sector and the peloton split at one point and I think we had six guys in there which was great. It was perfect for Christiaan, Thom and me in the peloton as we could just follow in there. Then when Ko was caught, Ryan and Steyn pulled in the peloton to catch the next move. In the final everyone did some great teamwork to bring back the break. We had three of us in the front group in the last kilometre and gave each other some space. When I saw the gap and went out early, I opened my sprint and could hold it all the way to the line. I’m really happy to take the win with the team, especially after a lot of bad luck this year.”

Team Picnic PostNL coach Bennie Lambregts added: “I think overall it was a nice victory not only from Johan, but from the whole team. We really stuck to the plan today, were present in the attacks and then rode really well as a team in the finale to make sure that we had numbers either prepare a sprint or react on attacks late on. Personally for Johan it comes after a lot of bad luck this season, so it is a really nice win and proves to him that he can compete at this level. In general the team were really on point today and showed great teamwork; and we even end with Christiaan and Thom also in the top ten too, showing how strong we were.”