It was an action packed return to the cobbles for Team Novo Nordisk at Ename Samyn Classic today with multiple crashes affecting the boys in blue before Czech fastman Matyas Kopecky sprinted to 11th in the final in Dour.
Repeated attacks characterized the early stages of the race as the battle for the breakaway began and Italian rouleur Filippo Ridolfo was active, but missed the key move as an eight-man group went clear for the best part of 100km before the front of the race came back together again. Setting up a fast-paced trio of closing circuits.
“I was really excited to be back racing on the Belgian cobbles,” said Kopecky. “And today’s race didn’t disappoint in terms of action. We had some bad luck in the beginning with crashes and I went down at speed after a sequence of furniture banged my knees up and I never felt 100% after that.”
“Two laps to go I still didn’t feel right and was suffering, but I was still at the front do the group although definitely too far back. Then on the last lap the adrenalin kicked in, I felt less pain and with 2km to go I thought the top ten might be possible. In the end it was super close, but I missed that last percent and come away with 11th.
“We’ve got some time to recover a little now, heal up and get back training to prepare for Bredene Koksijde.”
Photo credit: Sprint Cycling Agency