Cycling: The Belgian team Quick-Step Floors has won the Hammer Series in Limburg. In the final team pursuit, the five men gave it their all and were able to celebrate hundreds of meters before crossing the finish line. Mitchelton-Scott presented himself strong again. The Australians finished second, continuing to lead the Hammer Series overall.
Quick-Step Floors clever and sovereign
Step by step, the team has Quick Step Floors worked forward at the Hammer Series in Limburg. The fight between the teams began on Friday with the Hammer Climb, which the team from Bahrain-Merida could decide for himself. A day later triumphed Mitchelton-Scott in the hammer sprint. Quick-Step Floors placed third on the first day and second on the second. Overall, this resulted in a number of points that allowed them to start in first place. Knowing that Bahrain-Merida was not a good time trial team behind them, the Belgians took it easy right from the start. Nevertheless, the competition didn't really get any closer, so that on the home straight, there was a calming moment to celebrate. Kasper Asgreen, Philippe Gilbert, Alvaro Jose Hodeg, Yves Lampaert and Enric Mas crossed the finish line side by side.
Philip Gilbert:
“We started at the front and played it safe, not too fast at the beginning. We knew that this way others would get closer, but it was better than bursting.”
Mitchelton-Scott defends 2018 Hammer Series overall lead
Things were much closer behind the Quick-Step Floors team. There were also some changes in the order. So could himself Mitchelton-Scott still working up from fourth to second place. Got the opposite way Bahrain-Merida because they still lost the last place on the podium LottoNL Jumbo. It was particularly close – in the truest sense of the word – in the battle for fifth place. At the same time on the home straight were namely with BMC, Sky and Bora, hansgrohe three teams again. Although the road was wide, there was of course no room for 15 riders, so there was a chaotic sprint, which BMC won in the end ahead of Sky. Mitchelton-Scott continues to lead the Hammer Series standings. The finale will take place on October 14th in Hong Kong with a one-day race.
Quick-Step Floors take the honors in #HammerLimburg – the team's 37th victory of the season – on World Bicycle Day: https://t.co/zfJcLIAmD0#HammerSeries pic.twitter.com/ELKevUvWFd
— Quick-Step Cycling (@quickstepteam) June 3, 2018