Matt Brammeier has taken his first win in a pro UCI race with an amazing ride underlining the potential he has always had.
With a performance that perhaps calls into question his team’s selection for the Tour de France, Matt Brammeier has rocketed to the best victory of his career at the ZLM Toer in Holland.
The MTN-Qhubeka man put in the kind of finishing surge today that will make him a hot favourite to add a fifth road race gold to his palmares at the National Road Championships in Omagh next Sunday.
“I saw the opportunity at the end of the stage when the peloton stalled a bit so I thought I’d give it a go; 99 times out of 100 it doesn’t work but today was that one time it did work,” a delighted Brammeier said at the finish.
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“I had a bit of a rough few days after Tour of Luxembourg. I picked up a bit of a virus and I’m still getting over it but today I felt better.
“I’m so happy to get this win now for myself and also for the team, it’s a great way to promote our 5,000 bicycles campaign,” he added in reference to his team’s quest to bring bicycles to developing African nations.
“Hopefully the win can also boost morale and confidence going into the next races and of course for my national championships next week.”
When the early breakaway was caught today on the 183km stage 4 from Eindhoven to Boxtel, the scene was set for a mass bunch sprint, with yellow jersey André Greipel (Lotto Soudal) the man most likely for victory.
But Brammeier ripped up that script with just under 15km remaining; having a go off the front and finding himself with a gap on his own as the others were either unwilling or unable to get across to him.
While few would have backed any solo breakaway to make it to the finish given the sprinters’ team interest in shutting down any aggressors; Brammeier put his head down having clearly decided today was his day.
Brammeier looking absolutely delighted with his victory (Photo: ZLM Toer - ProCycleShots.com)
Very quickly the Irishman built his lead to 30 seconds and with 10km remaining he pulled it out to 40 seconds.
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Behind, the peloton hesitated a little, with no one team taking up a full-on chase.
And with Brammeier clearly feeling very strong in what has been a great season to date, he seized his chance; building his lead to one minute by the time he passed the 3km remaining point.
Behind, Greipel’s team had now taken up the chase in the bunch but a combination of leaving it too late and Brammeier’s strength over the full 14km pursuit to the line meant they could not get him back.
He sailed over the finish line; his hands stretched high in delight at his first win in a UCI race outside his four national titles.
In the end he made it look easy, having 25 seconds to spare over the yellow jerseyed Greipel who took the sprint for 2nd place.
Brammeier’s victory is the ninth for his team this year and follows some fantastic riding by the Irishman in recent months, including making the main breakaway of the day at the Tour of Flanders.
He did not gain inclusion on his team’s Tour de France line-up despite his very good form this year. The African backed and registered ProContinental team has a wildcard invite to the Tour and has opted to pick mainly African riders for the race.
However, Brammeier should get a ride at the Vuelta later in the summer, which would be his first Grand Tour.
His victory today is all the more remarkable when one considers he was run over by a truck in 2007, breaking both legs and having to fight for years to get back into racing condition.
Stage 4: Eindhoven to Boxtel (183km)
1 Matthew Brammeier (Irl) MTN - Qhubeka 4:05:31
2 André Greipel (Ger) Lotto Soudal 0:00:25
3 Greg Henderson (NZl) Lotto Soudal
4 Tim Merlier (Bel) Vastgoedservice - Golden Palace Continental Team
5 Michael Schwarzmann (Ger) Bora-Argon 18
6 Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) Team Roompot
7 Sondre Holst Enger (Nor) IAM Cycling
8 Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Wanty - Groupe Gobert
9 Yves Lampaert (Bel) Etixx - Quick-Step
10 Roy Jans (Bel) Wanty - Groupe Gobert
11 Boy Van Poppel (Ned) Trek Factory Racing
12 Moreno Hofland (Ned) Team LottoNL-Jumbo
13 Raymond Kreder (Ned) Team Roompot
14 Edward Theuns (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
15 Marco Zanotti (Ita) Parkhotel Valkenburg Continental Team
16 Gert-Jan Bosman (Ned) Cyclingteam Jo Piels
17 Gijs Van Hoecke (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
18 Coen Vermeltfoort (Ned) Cyclingteam Join's - de Rijke
19 Oliver Naesen (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
20 Pieter Vanspeybrouck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
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