Plancoët, France - A day with strong headwinds and rain late in the stage at Le Tour de Bretagne Cycliste lead to a tough day in the saddle for the Hagens Berman Axeon Cycling Team.
“It was a hard race again today with a lot of headwind,” said sport director Koos Moerenhout. “The final hour was in the rain, which made it feel that much colder.”
Mikkel Bjerg has continued to show a return to previous fitness throughout the week, challenging himself in Sunday’s stage 5 by joining a mid-race breakaway. Moerenhout described the break as “good and promising,” but in the end the break didn’t earn much time. Five riders went across and Bjerg dropped back into the peloton in the final on a technical circuit.
“It feels really nice being able to help the team,” said Bjerg. “I have felt really strong the last couple of days. When I made the breakaway, it was really frustrating to get dropped in the last 10 km due to a mistake. I took the wrong turn in a roundabout with around 20 km to go and had to use all of my unburned matches to get back to the break. I feel a bit disappointed to have been unable to see what I could do at the finish, but as I’m feel stronger and stronger, I know there will be more chances in the future.”
Rui Oliveira was the team’s best finisher in 31st place. Jonny Brown finished in 36th place, in the same group as Oliveira. Zeke Mostov lost some ground in the general and youth classifications. He now sits in 13th place in the GC and 5th in the youth classification.
Two stages remain of the week long stage race. Tomorrow’s 152 km stage will take the riders from Plancoët to Dol-de-Bretagne. Start time is 12:55 CEST (6:55 EDT).
(Header photo of Mikkel Bjerg by Davey Wilson.)
