03 Apr 2022
Van Baarle second in Flanders
Related riders
Dylan van Baarle
Ronde van Vlaanderen, 272.5km
Dylan van Baarle put in a superb attacking ride on the way to a magnificent second place at the Tour of Flanders.
The Dutchman timed his final effort perfectly as the two lead pairings came back together in the final 400 metres. The thrilling finish was set up by a long-range move from the Grenadier. He pushed clear with 50 kilometres to go alongside Fred Wright (Bahrain Victorious) before the famous Koppenberg climb.
That move ensured Van Baarle was at the head of the race as an elite five-man group formed heading into the closing stages.
On the final passage of the Oude Kwaremont, the duo of Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix) and Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) went clear. Van Baarle managed his efforts, and in the final kilometre he and Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ) bridged the gap, just as the sprint took hold.
Van der Poel edged clear to win the race, but Van Baarle was able to finish strong to confirm a brilliant podium, and the team’s best finish in the Belgian Monument.
The Dutchman timed his final effort perfectly as the two lead pairings came back together in the final 400 metres. The thrilling finish was set up by a long-range move from the Grenadier. He pushed clear with 50 kilometres to go alongside Fred Wright (Bahrain Victorious) before the famous Koppenberg climb.
That move ensured Van Baarle was at the head of the race as an elite five-man group formed heading into the closing stages.
On the final passage of the Oude Kwaremont, the duo of Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix) and Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) went clear. Van Baarle managed his efforts, and in the final kilometre he and Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ) bridged the gap, just as the sprint took hold.
Van der Poel edged clear to win the race, but Van Baarle was able to finish strong to confirm a brilliant podium, and the team’s best finish in the Belgian Monument.
Tom Pidcock finished 14th among the chasing pack, while Ben Turner again showed his strength in the Classics, finishing 35th.
Reaction
- Dylan van Baarle
"I wasn’t expecting anymore to sprint for the victory, that’s for sure. I was confident in the sprint after 270km – I’m not super quick but at least I don’t lose too much power. So I was confident to sprint for third place but then all of a sudden we were sprinting for the victory. It went so fast so you had to decide really quick. In the end Mathieu was too quick.
"I was always thinking to be ahead of the race, and that they’d have to chase me. With Tom, Ben and Jhony Narvaez in the group behind, it’s always better if there is someone up the road, and they can save the legs a little bit. I just had to wait for the better guys to attack, and in this case it was Mathieu and Tadej.
- Dylan van Baarle
"I wasn’t expecting anymore to sprint for the victory, that’s for sure. I was confident in the sprint after 270km – I’m not super quick but at least I don’t lose too much power. So I was confident to sprint for third place but then all of a sudden we were sprinting for the victory. It went so fast so you had to decide really quick. In the end Mathieu was too quick.
"I was always thinking to be ahead of the race, and that they’d have to chase me. With Tom, Ben and Jhony Narvaez in the group behind, it’s always better if there is someone up the road, and they can save the legs a little bit. I just had to wait for the better guys to attack, and in this case it was Mathieu and Tadej.
"Vice world champion and vice runner up in Flanders. It’s not bad!"
