On Thursday Matti Breschel repeated last year’s performance in Tour of Denmark, when he won second stage and at the same time took the lead in the race.

Last year it was a stage to Aarhus, which ended in a victory for Breschel – the young Danish talent’s first victory as a pro. This year the strong Dane won a 220-kilometer stage from Skjern to Soenderborg – his fifth UCI pro-victory.

During the final laps in Soenderborg the wearer of the Yellow Jersey at the time Guillermo Ruben Bongiorno (CSF Group) was dropped, and as Breschel had already won a bonus sprint earlier in the stage he took the lead. His result also means that Breschel is now leading the Points Competition and the Best Young Rider’s Competition.

“It was a long day because we had head winds almost all the way through. But it suited us fine in a way because it wore out the peloton as it was also a long stage. We tried to split the peloton towards the end but even though the wind was strong it was not quite enough to give us an edge out there. In stead Jason McCartney and Michael Blaudzun tried to make some breaks,” explained Team CSC Saxo Bank’s sports director Dan Frost after the stage.

Blaudzun’s last attempt lasted until two kilometers from the finish, where he and Andreas Klier (Team Columbia), Frank Høj (Team Post Danmark) and Allan Johansen (Designa Køkken) were caught.

“The peloton was stretched out at the end and as the finishing stretch was up hill as well it was perfect for Matti. He positioned himself with routine and performed great in the sprint,” said a happy Dan Frost.

Photo courtsey of CSC Saxo Bank
Photo taken by: Lars Ronbog