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 the rest of the Academy youngsters were sitting safely in the wheels, preparing themselves for a potential bunch sprint and a lead-out for Alberto Dainese. The break got to the local circuit still ahead, and it was Bárnabas Peák the one who launched a solo attack before the last lap started. The Hungarian all-rounder hell off the bunch and took a powerful stage win, which accounts for our second victory in the 2019 edition. Back in the bunch, Alberto Dainese proved himself as the strongest in the field and took second in the day which allows him to keep on leading the points classification. 

Vasilis Anastopoulos, Performance Manager and DS for the race, analyses today’s success: 
“We can’t say anything more than that the guys perfectly executed the plan we set before the start. We wanted to send Marten Kooistra or Barnabas Peák in the break so the rest can save their legs and wait for a mass sprint if the break was back. So we wanted to play with 2 cards, as it happened. First Marten joined a group but he was brought back and then Barnabas did it successfully and he finished the job with a late attack. Then Alberto won the bunch sprint proving one more time that he is the best sprinter in this race. Chapeau to all of them!”