Then a number of DSM riders, including leader John Degenkolb, began to ride particularly wide and very slowly at the head of the peloton. It was very easy after surfing on Kortekeer, to the delight of a number of others in the group’s outposts.
Even Eddy Merckx had noticed the accident. “I didn’t like the start of Ronde. I couldn’t appreciate what the DSM team did at Kortekeer. They moved uphill so slowly that it became dangerous for others,” according to de Cannibal.
Mathieu van der Pol also reacted sarcasticly when he saw the photos:
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The agonizing thing for the DSM team is that Degenkolb ultimately had to be content with 19th place in the score, 6’09” behind winner Tadej Pogacar. Pavel Bittner and Alex Edmundson also crossed the finish line, 82nd and 83rd, respectively. The other four riders registered a “DNF”.
“We expected a tough race, but it’s not going to take long before a bunch of teams get away,” said Degenkolb after the finish. “We tried to get ahead, but it wasn’t our day. So it was about positioning well towards the crucial points and trying to control the pace. That way we can save energy and try to put our cards on the table.”
“We started with the goal of executing our plan as a unit,” said Sports Director Phil West. “Unfortunately we couldn’t get on the plane. Then he went down to sit well for the first time on Oude Kwaremont and the other hills. That worked too. It’s a tactic that many teams use with success. We’ll carry our good team spirit into the next races.”
However, the photos on Kortekeer quickly went viral on social media, with much gloating:
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