Huge result for Aqua Blue Sport in Dwars door West Vlaanderen Belgian classic
Lasse Norman Hansen delivered the goods for the Irish-registered team today at the Belgian semi-classic.
By Brian Canty
Lasse Norman Hansen has taken a really big result today for Aqua Blue Sport in Dwars door West-Vlaanderen.
Arguably their best finish of the season so far, the Dane took a third-place finish at the Belgian semi-classic.
Hansen blasted onto the podium after a really honest and immense effort in the 203-kilometre contest.
It was a punishing day and just 39 riders finished the race. Of the Aqua Blue Sport men who started, Aaron Gate was the only other finisher.
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Dutchman Jos Van Emden (LottoNL-Jumbo) won the race in a two-up sprint against Swiss Silvan Dillier (BMC Racing Team) after breaking away from the rest of the lead group late on.
Hansen, a five-time medal winner at the world track championships and the Olympic 2012 omnium gold medallist, came out of a group of five on the final circuit around the town of Ichtegem.
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With him prior to his late attack were Jasper De Buyst (Lotto Soudal), Pieter Serry (Quick-Step Floors), the aforementioned Dillier and Victor Campenaerts (LottoNL-Jumbo).
Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) soon joined, as did Jens Debusschere (Lotto Soudal), Twan Castelijns and eventual winner Van Emden (LottoNL-Jumbo), Elmar Reinders (Roompot-Nederlandse Loterij) and Jan-Willem Van Schip (Delta Cycling).
Dillier and Emden eventually wriggled free from that selection and powered away from the rest, though Hansen gave a brave chase that just fell short.
He very nearly caught the two leaders but was forced to settle for 3rd, which was still a fantastic result.
It is another signal to the cycling world, after great starts in Australia and the Middle East, that the Irish team is well able to compete at the head of affairs in really challenging pro racing.
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