The Etixx – Quick-Step team is known to be a dominating factor in the spring classics, but in the absence of injured team leader Tom Boonen the team has had to be satisfied with second place once again, this time at the Tour of Flanders. Niki Terpstra made the decisive move at 28 kilometres from the finish on the Kruisberg, but brought along perhaps the most formidable opponent possible in Alexander Kristoff (Katusha), and had no chance of beating the on-form Norwegian.
“In the sprint he easily finished it. I came next to him and then he accelerated. He was the best,” Terpstra said, adding he felt that a late attack would only result in him losing the ideal position for the sprint. “With an attack I was chance-less. The outcome would probably have been that he would be on my wheel.”
The Dutchman didn’t have any regrets after finishing on the most unenviable position once again, after doing the same at the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Gent-Wevelgem.
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“It’s yet another second place but he was simply better. After Gent-Wevelgem you can claim it was tactical and that I should’ve reacted when Paolini attacked. Now he was simply better.”
Team manager Patrick Lefevere was also satisfied with the second place, feeling it was the best possible result while riding without a dedicated team leader. Kristoff was his predicted winner.
“Sky controlled the race. Everybody was able to attack once or twice but they couldn’t make the difference. In the final 12 kilometres there was a headwind which was an additional factor to take into account. Niki did what he had to do in the final kilometres. If he waited earlier he would have finished fourth,” Lefevere said.
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