Danish national champion Matti Breschel’s victory in yesterday’s Dwars door Vlaanderen has been applauded by both his team manager Bjarne Riis, and TV commentator Rolf Sorensen, who recently expressed concern that the riders were not winning.
Breschel attacked with over 20 kilometres remaining in the one day semi-Classic and held off the chase group behind, showing impressive strength.
“It was fantastic. It was just what we needed,” Riis said, referring to the team’s hunt for a replacement sponsor for 2011 onwards. “It was about time that Matti got a victory in the Belgian races. He rode very strongly and it was beautiful.”
Sorensen and others recently questioned the condition of the riders, who until yesterday had only taken three wins. These were Fabian Cancellara’s victory in the Tour of Oman, Juan Jose Haedo’s sprint success in the Mumbai Cyclothon in India and Alex Rasmussen’s triumph in the time trial at the Vuelta a Andalucia.
The former pro was happy to pay tribute where it was due, though, and was clearly impressed by Breschel. “It was a victory in the league of its own,” he enthused. “He is where he should be, and he will certainly be in form for the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. Breschel was the race’s strongest rider, much stronger than, say, Tom Boonen. I think that perhaps only Fabian Cancellara could have been going stronger than Matti today.”
Riis had said on several occasions that he was not worried about the team’s relatively slow start to the year. He believes that Breschel’s triumph vindicates his approach, and thinks that there are many more wins ahead.
“I’ve known all along that the guys would probably come right. Fabian and Matti’s timing is right, and their form is coming quietly,” he said. “So there’s no doubt that the two probably should be at the forefront. I am convinced that victory means that the team will get a boost, so the guys can do it well the next time.
“We are in the running for the victory in the coming races; it doesn’t matter if it is one or the other of them [Breschel or Cancellara].”