This Thursday, the second stage of the ZLM Tour was on the program for the 130 runners taking part in the Dutch event. On Wednesday, it was a Belgian who showed himself the strongest, Rune Herregodts (Intermarché-Wanty). The bronze medalist in the time trial of the 2023 Belgian Championships was untouchable this Wednesday evening since he beat the Dutchman by 12 seconds Tim van Dijke (Team Visma | Lease a Bike). Completely different scenario with a flat 193 kilometer stage on Thursday. Casper Van Uden (dsm-firmenich PostNL) largely dominated the sprint, without any real opposition. Gleb Strytsa (Astana Qazaqstan) and Gerben Thijssen (Intermarché-Wanty) complete the podium.
Van Uden beat Merlier and Groenewegen on the AlUla Tour
The summary of the stage
From the start of the stage, a breakaway of 4 riders forms. Victor Vercouillie (Flanders-Baloise), Elmar Abma (VolkerWessels), Guillaume Visser (Diftar) and Jelte Krijnsen (Parkhotel Valkenburg) form the morning escape. But everything becomes complicated for the peloton when 3 riders restart 67 kilometers from the finish. Samuele Zoccarato (VF Group-Bardiani CSF), Max Kroonen (VolkerWessels) and Bram Dissel (Beat Cycling Club) join the 4 men in front to form a solid group 60 kilometers from the finish. The kilometers pass and the lead of the 7 leading men diminishes.
Despite the work of the Visma | Lease a BikeofIntermarché-Wanty and some Polti-Kometa the gap stagnates and the 7 escapees have a 30 second lead 7 kilometers from the finish. The suspense is total. But 800 meters from the line, the peloton returns and the teammates take their sprinter. Van Uden is the first to throw and take a few meters in advance. The Dutchman will never be seen again. Behind, Strytsa takes 2nd place ahead Thijssen. Giovanni Lonardi (Polti-Kometa) finished 4th in front Mattia Pinazzi (VF Group-Bardiani CSF). This is the 3rd victory of Van Uden This year. Rune Herregodts remains leader of the general classification.
