You know what thrills me most about bike racing? When riders seize their chance, throw fear to the wall and just RIDE. I got my fix in spades on these final stages. BinckBank Tour and Arctic Race of Norway – I salute you!
BinckBank Tour Stage 7: Essen to Geraardsbergen, 193.5km
Jasper Stuyven charged away with 3.5km and gave everything to take a superb solo victory on the Muur van Geraardsbergen. As the Trek-Segafredo rider lay exhausted on the cobbles, Philippe Gilbert (Quick Step Floors) led the chase group home with race leader Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb) sealing top step of the podium with third. Big Tom’s winning margin was +17secs on Tim Wellens (Lotto Soudal) with Stuyven’s panache taking him to third overall at +46secs. Peter Sagan (BORA-hansgrohe) had to settle for the points jersey. Trek-Segafredo sealed a magnificent week with a trip to the podium as best team.
Video, we pick it up just before the last climb…
Podium time, I love how Jasper gets a Muur cobble…
Embed from Getty ImagesIt’s a team game…
Last word…
Full report at Cycling News
Race Website Race Twitter #BinckBankTour
Arctic Race Stage 4: Tromsø to Tromsø, 160.5km
“Attack is the best form of defence” explained BMC’s Dylan Teuns in his post stage interview, right after his solo rampaging ride to stage victory and his third overall title in as many weeks. Worried about the permutations of bonifications on the finish line, the young Belgian took matters into his own hands by just going for the stage win himself, coming over the line with a little bow – LOVE IT. Loic Chetout (Cofidis) placed second with Katusha-Alpecin’s Sven Erik Bystrom rounding out the podium. Teuns picked up the points and young rider awards and was joined on the GC podium by Team Coop’s August Jensen (how long before we see him in the professional peloton?) at +29secs, with Michel Kreder (Aqua Blue) third at +43secs. Norwegian giants Joker Icopal walked away with the best team prize
Podium time and rather magnificent trophy
Hey Midge, but what about the salmon jersey? YES!!! Bernie Eisel (Dimension Data) made the break again and for the first time can add a King of the Mountain award to his palmares – and 500kg of salmon to his freezer!
It was THIS big…
Seriously though, how on earth do you deal with 500kg of salmon at the end of a race? The #LadiesFavourite has the perfect answer. We would expect nothing less #BernieLove
This race has been a joy, there has been nothing but smiles from teams and fans alike…
Image © ASO / Pauline Ballet
Image © ASO / Pål Laukli
Let’s leave Astana with the last word – take it away Matti Breschel and Truls Korseth …
Full report at Cycling News
Race Website Race Twitter #ArcticRace
Header image: BinckBank Tour podium L-R Tim Wellens, Tom Dumoulin, Jasper Stuyven © MVH/Tim De Waele/Corbis via Getty Images