After he began his season with a series of strong results at the Tour Down Under and a victory at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, many wondered whether Laurence Pithie could carry his early season form into the Spring Classics.
Although 43rd place in his first European race of the season at Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne is hardly something to write home about, Pithie’s form in Sunday’s race was clear for all to see, as he broke away with the race’s eventual podium finishers Wout van Aert, Tim Wellens and Oier Lazkano.
The four-man group attacked with 87km to go on the Mont Saint Laurent climb, quickly getting a gap on the main group. However, Pithie was dropped by the leaders 18km later, as Van Aert put in an attack on the Knokteberg climb.
The Kiwi rider then spent some time between groups, but was then joined by a chasing duo of Matteo Jorgenson and Matej Mohorič. The three riders would work together in an attempt to bridge across to the leading trio, but were unsuccessful in their efforts. They would then be swallowed up by the peloton in the closing kilometres, with Pithie choosing not to contest the sprint for fourth place and finishing safely in the main group.
On his efforts in the breakaway, Pithie said in an interview with Cyclingnews that “I came here with good form and I really wanted to do well in these Classics, so if I want to be with the best, then that's where I have to be. It was unfortunate not to be able to follow the acceleration of the best guys in the race in the end, but that's racing”.
The Groupama-FDJ youngster will continue his Classics campaign at Le Samyn on Tuesday, before heading to Paris-Nice next week, as he continues to build his form for the rest of the season and his debut Grand Tour at the Giro d’Italia in May.
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