Aqua Blue Sport grabs strong Dutch result (on punctured wheel)
The Aqua Blue Sport riders putting the hammer down on the front of the peloton in the closing stages.
British national road champion Adam Blythe has taken a strong result for Aqua Blue Sport in Holland.
The sprint specialist claimed fourth place for the Irish-registered ProContinental team in the 206km Ronde van Drenthe.
He was denied a shot at victory when two riders from the near race-long escape survived out front.
And in the dash to the finish line from the reduced peloton Blythe was edged out for the final place on the podium. He contested yesterday's sprint on a punctured tyre.
The gallop for 3rd went to Jasper de Buyst of WorldTour team Lotto Soudal.
The Belgian rider crossed the line 11 seconds after Dutchman Jan-Willem Van Schip (Delta Cycling) claimed a strong victory.
Advertisement
He got the verdict from compatriot Twan Castelijns (Team LottoNL-Jumbo).
Related News
Frustrating day. @AquaBlueSport boys rode strongly all day. Just missed catching the break and had a flat in the last 350m. ??????
— Adam Blythe (@AdamBlythe89) March 11, 2017
It was a huge win for Van Schip; the Continental level rider scalping the WorldTour man after both had ridden out front for most of the race.
They had been away with Julius van den Berg (SEG Racing) who lost contact as the race neared its conclusion.
Blythe's form bodes well
While Blythe was desperate to take his first podium finish of the season, his 4th place in the UCI 1.1 ranked event bodes well for the period ahead.
Team mate Lasse Norman Hansen took 3rd place in the Dwars door West Vlaanderen Belgian classic last weekend. And it appears the new Irish outfit is getting closer to a big win.
The team enjoyed an early season run of strong results and aggression in the sunshine of Australia and the Middle East.
And it has clearly transferred that positive start into the grittier European spring campaign, which is easier said than done.
Topics
