Dubai: UAE Team Emirates’ Marco Marcato finished 20th at the newly promoted, UCI World Tour day race, Dwars Door Vlaanderen in Belgium, with local cyclist Yves Lampaert of Team Quick-Step Floors claiming victory.
Marcato led younger teammates in the first race of the season in northern Europe and performed well in the predominantly flat section of the race conserving enough energy to break away from the main bunch into an attacking group of 22 riders on the Eikenberg — a 1.2-km climb with a 10 per cent incline at its steepest point.
Lampaert broke away from the leading group of riders in the final kilometres with teammate Philippe Gilbert, Alexey Lutsenko of Astana Pro Team and Team Orica-Scott’s Luke Durbridge just behind.
Marcato finished the race in the first chaser group of 23 riders and teammate Sacha Modolo completed the race together with Marko Kump, Vegard Laengen and Simone Consonni, 01.54 behind Lampaert.
With its pavé (cobblestones) and multiple short but sharp climbs, the 203-km race makes for challenging and exciting racing.
Marcato said: “I read the course well which is so important in this race. I felt good during the start and the main attack. When the four lead riders counter-attacked, there was a gap and unfortunately, I could not manage to bridge it. It was a good performance and has given me a boost to aim for a better result in the next few races.”
