TNN wrap up Belgium Tour with another top ten for Kopecky

Team Novo Nordisk signed off from the Baloise Belgium Tour with Matyas Kopecky tenth on the fifth and final stage for his and the teams second top ten of the race.

As is traditional for the climax of the Belgium Tour, the last stage finished with a tough test around the capital city of Brussels, this time made up of five punchy circuits before a fast and slightly uphill sprint by the legendary Atomium landmark.

“We did a great job as a team today,” said Kopecky. “The guys supported me really well and we definitely improved when it counted at the last opportunity. Finishing off a hard week with a top ten here in Brussels is great.”

It wasn’t the most ideal of starts as the wind whipped and rain swirled around the King Baudouin Stadium, with the early breakaway split into two small groups as it tried to go clear, battling against the tight leash of the peloton.

The weather finally cleared and two hours into the stage the sun decided to come out to play, drying out the tarmac and bringing out the smiles. That warmth did nothing for the efforts of the breakaway though, with the bunch taking control before the final lap and the stage set for the expected sprint finish.

“I had Alessandro with me up until 5km to go,” continued Kopecky. “He’s learning really fast and did great work today, he tried his best to keep me sheltered at the front for as long as possible and as the pace and stress heightened he didn’t let it phase him.”

“I’m really comfortable with this type of final now, I feel confident moving with the sway of the bunch and the last few kilometers I managed to avoid some of the chaos and a late crash to time my sprint pretty nicely and achieve the goal of getting into the top ten again. Two top tens is positive for us here, especially since we lost Andrea on stage three and I’m looking forward to the Nationals now in the Czech Republic.”

Photo credits: Sprint Cycling Agency