Author: David Soteras

Meeus wins in Tombroek; Groves in GC contention in Circuit

Meeus wins in Tombroek; Groves in GC contention in Circuit

It was an action-packed day as the Academy had representation in three different races today. Alberto Dainese, Daan Hoole and Marten Kooistra were up for Ronde van Vlaanderen u23 today. And also in Belgian soil, our team was represented in U23 Road Series' Tombroek Koerse. It was a hectic day out, in which the Academy was well-represented in most of the last moves through Bárnabas Peák, before Jordi Meeus got himself in a group of 7 riders coming into the final part of the day. The group cooperated together and in the final…continue reading →
Groves wins the opening stage in Circuit des Ardennes

Groves wins the opening stage in Circuit des Ardennes

The Circuit des Ardennes kicked off with a long 188 km long stage. The day was off to calm start and quickly two riders escaped from the main group and they got a significant gap that at a certain point was more than 6 minutes. Even though a rider tried to bridge across the leading group at a certain point, he was eventually brought back by the bunch. All six Academy jerseys could be found in the peloton, sitting nice and easy in the wheels saving energy for the final sprint to the line.…continue reading →
Thymen Arensman will return in Circuit des Ardennes

Thymen Arensman will return in Circuit des Ardennes

Just before our season kicked off in early March, our Thymen Arensman suffered a crash during training that resulted in a broken collarbone, forcing our talented Dutchman to postpone his 2019 debut. The runner-up of 2018 the Tour de l'Avenir is now busy preparing his comeback to the racing scheme. "I feel very good right now. I feel that my form is coming back and becoming stronger, I am not back at my old level but we are taking step by step" points out Arensman. Despite undergoing surgery our 19-year old, quickly jumped on…continue reading →
Groves makes it two in Triptyque’s last stage

Groves makes it two in Triptyque’s last stage

After yesterday's double sector, the bunch faced one last stage before wrapping up the 2019 edition of the Triptyque des Monts et Chateâux. The stage started with several attackers trying to make it up the road, being first a group of five riders the ones who got themselves away from the main group.However, the bunch picked up the pace and got to the leading group with more than 100 km to go. Various echelons happened, but our colors were always well-represented upfront. Finally, it was a group of four riders the one that…continue reading →
Hoole and Rasch get into the Top 10 in today’s double sector

Hoole and Rasch get into the Top 10 in today’s double sector

After yesterday's sensational victory by Kaden Groves in the sprint of the opening stage in Triptyque des Monts et Chateâux, today it was the turn for a hard double sector that started with an 11-km long time trial. Our fast Australian was the last man off the ramp as he was leading the overall classification. Our best-placed rider was Daan Hoole, who set the eighth fastest, proving that despite being a second-year U23 he is already fighting with the best in the category when riding against the clock. The afternoon sector featured a…continue reading →
Kaden Groves takes the win in Triptyque’s opening stage

Kaden Groves takes the win in Triptyque’s opening stage

Today's opening stage in Triptyque des Monts et Châteaux featured a total of 147,1 km that finished with two local laps to a circuit. The day was off to a fast start until three riders make it up the road, with one chaser in between them and the big group for many kilometers. All Academy jersey sat safe and easy in the wheels, saving energy for the final rush. The gap opened by the leading group surpassed the 5'30" mark, before the peloton picked up the pace and reduced the time difference. Once the…continue reading →
Two stage wins & the green jersey after a week in Normandie

Two stage wins & the green jersey after a week in Normandie

We arrived at the last stage of the 2019 Tour de Normandie with two stage wins under our belt as well as Alberto Dainese wearing the green jersey as the leader of the points classification. 150 km separated the riders from Caen, the usual finish-town of the race. The parcour was quite flat which previewed a bunch sprint towards the end. Four riders jumped away from the peloton and formed the breakaway of the day. Quickly some Academy jersey could be seen in the front of the bunch helping the team of the leader…continue reading →
Dainese sprints to fifth in Normandie and stays in green

Dainese sprints to fifth in Normandie and stays in green

After yesterday's strong win by Bárnabas Peák and Alberto Dainese sprinting to second, we were ready to fight again for our third win in this edition of the Tour de Normandie. The stage presented a predominantly flat parcour with a final local circuit that presented a short steep climb in the way to the finish. The Academy jerseys could be seen quickly in the front of the bunch as Daan Hoole worked alongside the team of the race leader in order to keep the 3-man breakaway within a safe distance, allowing them close to three minutes…continue reading →
Peák powers to a solo win in Tour de Normandie

Peák powers to a solo win in Tour de Normandie

Today's arrival to Bagnoles de l'Orne brought sweet and nice memories to the Academy expedition as current Education-First rider and Academy alumni, Julius van den Berg, won there last year. Once again, the race started with a very fast pace and several riders tried to make it across. Marten Kooistra represented our flag in some of the early moves, but it was eventually a group of six riders with Bárnabas Peák in it the one which made it up the road. The Hungarian Champion's group got a maximum gap of close two minutes, while…continue reading →
Dainese wins the bunch sprint, and takes 4th in the day

Dainese wins the bunch sprint, and takes 4th in the day

Today's stage presented a 173 km long parcour with a predominantly flat local circuit. The race was off to a fast start with several riders trying to make it up the road. It was first a large group of 17 riders the one that got a gap, but eventually, the breakaway of the day was formed by 3 and it was allowed up to 3 minutes. The confidence and good results carried in the previous sprints by our guys, make it clear that we wanted to fight again for the win. That's the reason why…continue reading →