9th March: Rucphen – Rucphen
Development Team Picnic PostNL were back in action on Sunday afternoon at the Dorpenomloop Rucphen. Taking place on laps of a flat course in and around the town of Rucphen, it would be the twisting nature of the course and the attitude of the peloton that would shape the day. For a long time no real break was able to form and it looked destined to be a sprint finish. However, with around 60 kilometres to go a group of around 14 riders formed out front that included Ryan Gal. Initially their gap was held close but eventually it expanded and entering the last five kilometres it was clear they would fight for the win. Despite a few attacks, things were settled in a reduced sprint where Gal got up for a nice seventh place on the day.
Gal said: “It was a fast and chaotic day out. The guys were really present and active in the front and being in almost every move that went. At some point I got in a move that got more of a gap. After some more people joined us, the gap to the peloton started growing. Coming into the final the pace was a bit too high to really try something that would stick. I ended up seventh in the sprint from that group, which is not the result we came for. We learn from the mistakes we made and onto the next one.”