A succesful AA day in Heerlen
Monday, February 16, 2009
HEERLEN -
The last cross-country race of this season in the Netherlands was held on Saturday. It also meant that this was the last race for Richard in his own country. Thijs Al, Eddy van IJzendoorn and Huenders Mitchell were also at the start of the last race of the Cycling Magazine Top Competition where they had defended their high positions in the overall rankings.
A group of five sprinters managed to open up a lead after three laps with Thijs Al being the only AAŽer. Groenendaal managed to fight back to the front, so two racers from the AA Cycling Team appeared in the front rank. They did not stay together for long however as Thijs Al pushed hard and opened up a lead of almost half a minute. He seemed on the way to triumph untill Lars Boom started closing the gap.
The Dutch champion rode furiously and after pushing too hard he blew up. Al seized the opportunity to once again pull out a comfortable lead and left Boom behind who gradually fell back into the second group. Thijs Al took his fourth win of the season with Ben Berden taking second and Gerben de Knegt third.
Richard Groenendaal was in his element on Saturday. He was in the race for the second place during the last phase but had to capitulate as he dropped back. He fell near the podium and finally finished in fourth place. Eddy van IJzendoorn finished in ninth place and retained his second spot in the rankings (see photo below). Mitchell Huenders was fifteenth and was winner of the Top Competition at the espoirs.
Heerlen Results
1. Thijs Al (Ned)
2. Ben Berden (Bel)
3. Gerben de Knegt (Bel)
..
4. Richard Groenendaal (Ned)
9. Eddy van IJzendoorn (Ned)
15. Mitchell Huenders (Ned)
The last cross-country race of this season in the Netherlands was held on Saturday. It also meant that this was the last race for Richard in his own country. Thijs Al, Eddy van IJzendoorn and Huenders Mitchell were also at the start of the last race of the Cycling Magazine Top Competition where they had defended their high positions in the overall rankings.
A group of five sprinters managed to open up a lead after three laps with Thijs Al being the only AAŽer. Groenendaal managed to fight back to the front, so two racers from the AA Cycling Team appeared in the front rank. They did not stay together for long however as Thijs Al pushed hard and opened up a lead of almost half a minute. He seemed on the way to triumph untill Lars Boom started closing the gap.
The Dutch champion rode furiously and after pushing too hard he blew up. Al seized the opportunity to once again pull out a comfortable lead and left Boom behind who gradually fell back into the second group. Thijs Al took his fourth win of the season with Ben Berden taking second and Gerben de Knegt third.
Richard Groenendaal was in his element on Saturday. He was in the race for the second place during the last phase but had to capitulate as he dropped back. He fell near the podium and finally finished in fourth place. Eddy van IJzendoorn finished in ninth place and retained his second spot in the rankings (see photo below). Mitchell Huenders was fifteenth and was winner of the Top Competition at the espoirs.
Heerlen Results
1. Thijs Al (Ned)
2. Ben Berden (Bel)
3. Gerben de Knegt (Bel)
..
4. Richard Groenendaal (Ned)
9. Eddy van IJzendoorn (Ned)
15. Mitchell Huenders (Ned)
Foto: www.photopress.be