Team Ampler-Tartu2024 raced today the 56th Omloop van Het Waasland in Belgium. The previous UCI second category race looked like a typical Belgian kermesse style competition, during the 168,8km the field covered at the beginning four bigger loops and five smaller ones by the end. The pace was on and the breakaways didn't last long, understandable with the final average speed, 45.8km/h.
At the end it was a chaotic sprint which saw many crashes including Madis Mihkels going down about 500m before the finish. Both Latvian riders of the Baltic development team managed to find a way to stay in the mix for victory and Pauls Rubenis was finally 6th and Alekss Krasts 9th.
There was no proper Team Ampler-Tartu2024 leadout train formed aproaching the final as Joonas Kurits punctured both wheels during the race and didn't make it back to the front of the race and Artjom Köster was involved in a crash.
The race was won by Belgian amateur Brent Cle (Stageco Cycling Team) ahead of the Albanian Champion Ylber Sefa (Vetrapo-B-Close-Cycling Team) and Norvegian Marius Wold (Tarteletto-Isorex).
Erki Laanemäe 31st
Markus Knaapi 41st
Madis Mihkels 60th
Artjom Köster & Joonas Kurits DNF Results
The next race for the team will be Olympias Tour (UCI 2.2) in Netherlands. The race starts on 17th March with a 10km long team time trial followed by four road race stages.
Link to the race's website.
Photo: Adam Illingworth , Alekss & Pauls during the team training camp in February.