Podiums for Tudor Pro Cycling in a September-week full of racing
Tudor Pro Cycling, riding the BMC Teammachine 01s, achieved multiple podium finishes during the third week of September. While the team raced daringly in Luxembourg, the Dutch cyclists claimed podium spots in Belgium on several occasions.
Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen
Dutch sprinter Arvid de Kleijn sprinted to 2nd place in the Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen on September 20th, finishing just behind the new European Champion. The team displayed a strong performance, racing at the front and controlling the breakaway in what turned out to be a chaotic race with frequent crashes.
One crash, at 10km to go, split the peloton into several small groups, with Arvid and Sebastian Changizi in the first group, though lead-out rider Maikel Zijlaard was stopped by the crash. Despite this, Arvid managed to find the right wheel and launched his sprint, securing another podium finish—his third in a row.
Super 8 Classic
A day later, the Swiss team claimed another second place in the Super 8 Classic.
The race from Brakel to Haacht was animated by a 6-man breakaway for most of the day, until the peloton began to move and attack within the last 40km. Once the peloton regrouped at 30km to go, Rick Pluimers joined a 4-man lead group, followed by a small chasing group that included Matteo Trentin. The two TUD riders found themselves together in a 7-man breakaway that formed in the last 20km, but the decisive move came from Baroncini during a quiet moment at 15km to go.
Pluimers and Trentin tried to close the gap to the solo leader, and Pluimers launched a late attack with 1.5km remaining, securing 2nd place behind the solo winner. Matteo Trentin took 4th in the sprint, finishing 6th overall.
Tour of Luxembourg
Throughout the week, another part of Tudor Pro Cycling’s roster competed in Luxembourg. Robin Froidevaux was the team’s top performer, with a podium finish on the second stage.
With 155km and 2,200 meters of climbing on the agenda, the breakaway was caught just before entering the final circuit, 30km from the finish. Some late solo attacks animated the last kilometers as the bunch prepared for a sprint. The team protected Robin Froidevaux, who fought for position in the final corners and sprinted to 3rd place.
He said: "I am really happy with today’s result. The team rode well and put me on Van der Poel's wheel. I fought for that position, then launched my sprint. This was my first sprint of the year, and I’m pleased to have had the chance: finishing 3rd behind Pedersen and Van der Poel, and ahead of other strong riders, is great!"
