If there was one rider in the bunch looking to exploit the Herald Sun Tour crosswinds of stage 1, the majority of bets would have been placed on Koen de Kort. The odds on return were small but the payout was forthcoming nonetheless for the Trek-Segafredo rider who duly played in his role in a stirring day of racing.
The Dutchman is well versed with the winds of northern Europe and has multiple Classics campaigns under his belt. The 35-year-old also recently raced the Melbourne to Warrnambool and spends his off-season In Australia. All qualities combining to assist De Kort in playing a starring role for his Trek-Segafredo team and help tear apart the race.
Ensconced in a selected nine-rider leading group for the final kilometres of the stage as crosswinds split the bunch, De Kort found himself in the rare position of being able to race for himself. The loyal teammate was in position to atone for his close call at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race. Instead, it was Lasse Norman Hansen who washed away the regret of his close call in the prologue to take the win. De Kort finished fourth.
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"It was not really frustrating. It was an honest finish and the others were faster than me," De Kort told Cyclingnews after crossing the line in fourth place.
"At Cadel’s race, I got a chance and I thought it would be my only chance for the year but straight away at the next race, I get another chance so I wanted to take it. I was up there contesting again and I am just happy with how my ride was but, obviously, when you are there you want to win as well."
The stage deciding move came late in the 161.6-kilometre ride from Colac after earlier attempts to split the race didn't go quite to plan, as De Kort explained.
Thinking of the GC and Buninyong
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
via Cyclingnews Latest News http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/herald-sun-tour-de-kort-takes-his-chance-in-warrnambool-finale
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