DVP crashes in Eneco opener
Tuesday 20 September 2016 18:39, UK
A crash denied Danny van Poppel the chance to battle it out in a star-studded sprint to kick off the Eneco Tour.
A crash denied Danny van Poppel the chance to battle it out in a star-studded sprint to kick off the Eneco Tour.
The Dutchman went down and was winded in a pile-up with 15 kilometres to go, yet after receiving medical attention on the ground he was bravely able to remount and finish the stage in the bunch.
The 184.7km opener saw the peloton tackle laps around Bolsward, with a mass sprint deciding the stage and Dylan Groenewegen (LottoNL-Jumbo) emerging to win one of the most hotly contested bunch kicks of the year.
Andy Fenn took up the mantle for Team Sky, and after being moved into position by Geraint Thomas the Brit came home just behind the first wave of sprinters in 31st.
Thomas was the next man home, with all team riders with the exception of Lars Petter Nordhaug finishing on the same time as the leader, keeping their powder dry ahead of more selective stages to come. Nordhaug had been caught up in the same crash as Van Poppel but was also able to finish the stage.
Earlier five men went clear in the break, but with so many motivated sprinters in the field it was no surprise to see it all come back together for a bunch kick.
Elia Viviani was a late withdrawal on the eve of the race with a fever and was replaced by Ben Swift.
