New Zealander Laurence Pithie could have ended the second main cobbled Traditional of his younger profession at Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne in forty third place, on the face of it, a reasonably nameless consequence, however the quantity on the outcomes sheet was a way from telling the story of his Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne.
The 21-year-old, who turned professional with Groupama-FDJ final yr, was one of many riders out entrance over the ‘hill zone’ mid-section of the race. He’d break free alongside the eventual podium trio Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease A Bike), Tim Wellens (UAE Staff Emirates), and Oier Lazkano (Movistar) on the cobbled climb of Mont Saint Laurent 87km from the road.
“I got here right here with good type, and I actually wished to do effectively in these Classics,” Pithie advised Cyclingnews after the end. “So, if I wish to be with the perfect, then that is the place I’ve to be. It was unlucky not to have the ability to observe the acceleration of the perfect guys within the race in the long run, however that is racing.
“I had actually good positioning,” he stated of the mid-race ‘hill zone’. “The boys saved me in entrance into the necessary climbs. When Visma accelerated, I used to be capable of observe, after which on the steep cobbled climbs when Van Aert went, I had the legs to observe as effectively.
“I used to be positively struggling along with his acceleration excessive of the climb, so I attempted to play my playing cards proper and save power the place I might and get better a bit bit, however, in the long run, I could not observe his acceleration.”
Pithie had been on the head of the race since Visma blew issues aside 5km earlier and would go on to stay with the leaders till the day’s penultimate climb earlier than battling for fourth within the chase with Matej Mohorič (Bahrain Victorious) and Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease A Bike).
The trio would not stick it out to the road although, as a substitute being swallowed up by a bigger chase group inside the ultimate 10km. Regardless of lacking a high consequence on the finish of the race, he was happy along with his day on the bike.
“It is actually optimistic,” he stated. “It will have been good to carry on to attempt to go for that fourth place. However in the long run, the peloton was coming quick, and it was a very good time out. I am pleased with it.”
The efficiency is one other optimistic so as to add to the listing of robust rides to start out 2024. He scored his first profession WorldTour win finally month’s Cadel Evans Nice Ocean Street Race, and he is additionally taken high 5 placings on the Surf Coast Traditional, the New Zealand nationwide street race and time trial, and a trio of Tour Down Beneath phases.
After nearly a month of racing spent within the southern hemisphere, racing within the Belgian chilly was one thing of a shock, and there will be extra grim climate and harsh roads to return, beginning with Le Samyn and taking in additional cobbled Classics subsequent month.
“It is like a freezer right here in Belgium, so coming from Australia, it’s extremely totally different,” Pithie joked. “The racing is much more aggressive right here, and it is racing I really like. I used to be comfortable to be there as we speak. I simply missed a bit little bit of legs, however with every race, I am going to get higher.”
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