ProTeam Impressive Tosh Van der Sande runner-up at Primus Classic

Tosh Van der Sande has shown his excellent shape once again at the Primus Classic. The Lotto Soudal rider impressed on the roads of next week’s world championships and was part of a five-rider front group that sprinted for the victory. The Frenchman Sénéchal was the fastest, Van der Sande had to settle for second place. Jasper Stuyven came in third and completed the podium.

In an almost 200 kilometres long race between Brakel and Haacht, things lit up quite early. After an early breakaway – which included amongst others Gerben Thijssen – was caught at around 60 kilometres to go, the race exploded. On a selective course – partly on the roads of the upcoming world championships – riders put in one attack after another until a select group formed after the Bekestraat, at around 35 kilometres from the finish. Van der Sande was attentive and joined this move. With five Deceuninck-Quick Step riders in the front group, it would become a tactical game, which started at 20 kilometres from the line. The original front group was reduced to five riders: Clarke, Honoré, Sénéchal, Stuyven and Lotto Soudal rider Van der Sande. In the nerve-racking final kilometres, teammates Honoré and Sénéchal played their cards but eventually, five riders would sprint for the victory in Haacht. Sénéchal proved to be the fastest, Van der Sande had to be content with second place.

“First of all, I have to be proud of this performance and the shape I am currently in”, says Tosh Van der Sande. “But at the same time it’s also a disappointment as it’s another time close but no cigar… Of course, I knew it would be difficult to win from this quality group, but I did everything I could. A second place is of course nice but it’s a bit sour as well…”

“You could feel from everything that the race would explode early. Beforehand, I expected quite a long race but I was ready for the fight. Already thirty to forty kilometres before we climbed the Moskesstraat for the first time, the roads were very narrow, which made for some very nervous racing. Then you just know the race would start early. It currently is the latest fashion in cycling for the race to start at 100 kilometres from the finish. But anyway, the legs did the talking today, which resulted in a second place.”

Image: Photo News.