TNN Takes on Ronde van Drenthe

Race: 54th Energiewacht Ronde van Drenthe

Start/Finish: Hoogeveen

Distance: 197.1km

Hoogeveen, the Netherlands – On Saturday, Team Novo Nordisk tackled its only Dutch race of the year at the 54^th edition of the Energiewacht Ronde Van Drenthe. The 197.1-kilometer race featured a challenging profile that featured over half a dozen pave sections and five times up the VAM-berg. The race began and ended in Hoogeveen and saw an early five-man breakaway reduce down to two riders by the final time up the VAM-berg. As the race hit the finishing circuits around Hoogeveen, it had splintered into several groups with one rider out solo followed by a 19-man chase group. The race came down to this front group with Jesper Asselman (Roompot-Oranje Peloton) sprinting to the win from the reduced peloton.

“This was my first time racing at the Ronde van Drenthe and I have heard so much about this race and the paves,” Charles Planet said. “It was a tough race, narrow roads, freezing cold and very fast on the final circuits. I tried to work for my teammates as much as possible and learn what I could from this type of racing.”

Results: 

• 1^st: Jesper Asselman (Roompot-Oranje Peloton): 4:43:27
• 2^nd: Mark Mcnally (Wanty-Groupe Gobert): +0:01
• 3^rd: Dylan Groenewegen (Team LottoNL-Jumbo): Same Time

Team Novo Nordisk Results: 

• Charles Planet: 43, 0:49 behind Asselman
• Martijn Verschoor: 103, 2:51 behind Asselman
• Kevin De Mesmaeker: 116, 7:19 behind Asselman
• Stephen Clancy: DNF
• Ruud Cremers: DNF
• Brian Kamstra: DNF
• Gerd de Keijzer: DNF

Gallery

 (Photos: © René Vigneron)