Ride of the Week: 3/2-3/9

The spring is finally hitting full stride so there are no more excuses for just riding into form for anyone that has goals in the next couple of months. While there were many that got close to the top step, no one did it last week quite like CULT Energy's young Michael Carbel at the Dorpenomloop Rucphen

Carbel takes the Dorpenomloop in his 2nd senior race

Carbel screams to a two bike-length win (Photo: Roland Godschalk)

In just his 2nd race as a senior rider, Michael Carbel opened up the results page for CULT Energy with a sprint over Brit Dan McLay (Lotto-Belisol U23) and Johim Ariesen (Metec-TKH). Carbel opened up a hellacious sprint in the final straight that relegated McLay to 2nd place, that same place that he was last year in this race. Former World Tour rider Jonas Aaen finished 4th while Kristian Haugaard snuck in for 5th for the new Giant-Shimano Development.

Multiple breakaways peppered the first half of the flat, windy race as attacks were launched and brought back by the eager peloton. After Lukasz Wisniowski drew out Sam Oomen, Timo Roosen and Emiel Vermeulen, the action started to heat up and within 20 kilometers, a group of 21 riders was off the front with another large group behind chasing. The leading group included riders such as American Tyler Williams, Jesper Asselman and Ivar Slik. While the average speed was topping 44 km/h, Oster Hus-Ridley was on the front and the gap was dropping. As the race went under 30 kilometers to go, the leading group dwindled down to just 9 riders. With less than 10 kilometers to go, Jesper Asselman set out on his own and was the last dying hope for a breakaway win but was swept up with under 5 kilometers to go, ensuring that there wouldn't be a repeat of last year's breakaway win by Dylan van Baarle. 

Coming into the finale, Oster Hus tried a small attack as well as Rabobank but it all came back together and Carbel blew the doors off everyone. For those not in the know, Carbel is the reigning Danish Junior RR Champion and along with teammate Mads Pedersen, is one of the brightest Danish talents for his generation. Keep looking for him this spring as he will be at the Drenthe races this weekend as well as upcoming Nation Cups with the National team.