"Benoot went at the right time" - Taco van der Hoorn puts on massive ride at Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne but comes short of podium

Taco van der Hoorn is a breakaway specialist and today at Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne he put his ability to the test. It had him fighting for victory, but against Jumbo-Visma the Dutchman had to contend with minor places.

Van der Hoorn was, like last year, present in the day's breakaway. “Trying to sit along, survive the hill zone, catch up with the strongest and then ride a final," van der Hoorn said of his plan. "But the peloton came back very quickly. We kept riding fast all the way because I knew the race would break open early. I wanted to get a lead as quickly as possible, but the peloton was closing in very quickly.”

Nevertheless, as Jumbo attacked the race van der Hoorn did have the legs to keep up over the final climbs, and could then work together in a five-rider group which had him within range of a big victory. “I surprised myself that I could keep up with them on Mont Saint Laurent. I didn't turn to the Knokteberg to avoid being dropped.

"After that I did my job full house. In the final it was trying to win, but that was very difficult with two men from Jumbo-Visma," he continued. The Intermarché - Circus - Wanty rider collaborated fully in the group, and when the victory in front was assured he tried to play it cold.

“I had certainly taken a sprint into account. It was very difficult. Everyone was evenly matched. Every hole was closed. You actually knew that you had to have someone from Jumbo-Visma with you, otherwise the other would close it. So you actually knew it was going to be a sprint, I didn't really think about an attack either," he explained.

The Dutchman tried saving his legs for a sprint, not having attacked towards the end as van Hooydonck and Matej Mohoric did. "Benoot went at the right time," he admits however, as he then battled for second place. Van der Hoorn sprinted to fourth on the day but has shown great form ahead of the spring.