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2016 Handzame Classic (1.1), Belgium

14th edition: Friday, March 18, 2016

Handzame Classic historic results | 2015 edition | 2017 edition

Bredene - Handzame, 199 km

Erik Baska

Erik Baska wins 2016 Handzame Classic

The Race: Here's the story from winner Erik Baska's Tinkoff team.

Erik Baška has raced to the biggest victory of his young career so far at the 14th edition of the Handzame Classic in Belgium, sprinting clear in the bunch finish to take a convincing win in his first year at WorldTour level.

The 22 year-old Slovakian sprinter was Tinkoff’s protected rider from the off today and made sure that he delivered after his teammates, riding as just six here, dropped him off in a perfect position in the final kilometre before he unleashed a perfectly timed finish to outpace all around him.

Delighted with the result, Sport Director Tristan Hoffman said: “Things didn’t work out like we wanted and had hoped them to on Wednesday, but sometimes you need days like this to refocus, and today it came together. Erik is a neo pro, and we already saw how fast he was last year but the step up this year is very different, yet today he showed that he’s getting stronger quickly.

“The guys all raced really well together. Early on we covered some of the course of Gent-Wevelgem, over a climb and some cobblestones and Michael Gogl and Jay McCarthy were up there, and then later on everyone looked after Erik well.”

Hanzame CLassic finish

Another shot of Erik Baska's win

“I have to say a big thank you to the team and to the Sport Directors for giving me the opportunity to be the leader for this race,” said an elated Erik Baška after the finish. “Also to my teammates for doing an incredible job today. The race was pretty hectic but I had really good legs and a good position in the finish. Michael Kolar brought me into around 10th to 15th wheel with about 500m to go and from there I told him that I would go on my own, up the left as there was more space there. I started to sprint with around 200 to 250m to go and had enough speed that I knew I had it in the last 50m.

"Preparation has gone well so far, and I'm really happy with this win after the hard work. I started racing in Dubai and then was in Langkawi so I've got some good racing in the legs, and this win will hopefully give me the confidence I need to keep stepping up."

The race started with an early break of two riders, following a flurry of attacks from the drop of the flag. The peloton wasn’t convinced with the composition of the move and everything came back together before a group of seven riders moved clear at the mid-way point. This move never gained more than a minute and gradually their lead was reeled back in as the Tinkoff riders stayed safe in the wheels, focusing their energy on the expected bunch sprint.

With 11km to go the final breakaway rider was brought back into the fold and the scene was set for a fast finish. Riders tried to break clear but the peloton was attentive to the moves. The Tinkoff jerseys were a constant presence at the front of the bunch as the kilometres ticked by, with Jay McCarthy covering moves and then the team keeping Erik out of the wind, preparing for his sprint.

As the race opened up on the wide road on the approach to the line, Erik unleashed his effort, coming around the outside of the bunch, victory never looking in doubt as he pulled ahead of the sprinting bunch behind. The win is Erik’s first of the year, his first year with the team and at WorldTour level, and will be a great confidence boost ahead at this early stage of the season.

Hoffman continued: “At the December training camp Erik was sick so at the January camp we had to take it easier but he still showed that he was quick. He had a good build up to the start of the season, and then he showed good legs at Langkawi, getting up there in some of the sprints. We don’t want to put too much pressure on him as it’s a big step up from the races he did last year, but today he showed his promise for the future.”

Complete Results:

199 kilometers raced at an average speed of 42.612 km/hr

1 BASKA Erik TINKOFF 4hr 40min 12sec
2 GROENEWEGEN Dylan LOTTO NL-JUMBO s.t.
3 MEERSMAN Gianni ETIXX-QUICK STEP s.t.
4 VAN LERBERGHE Bert TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN s.t.
5 LOOIJ André ROOMPOT-ORANJE PELOTON s.t.
6 SAVITSKIY Ivan GAZPROM-RUSVELO s.t.
7 DUPONT Timothy VERANDA'S WILLEMS s.t.
8 STASH Mamyr GAZPROM-RUSVELO s.t.
9 MANNAERTS Jelle SUPERANO HAM-ISOREX s.t.
10 BAUHAUS Phil BORA-ARGON 18 s.t.
11 GROSU Eduard Michael NIPPO-VINI FANTINI s.t.
12 DRUYTS Gerry CRELAN-VASTGOEDSERVICE s.t.
13 HALVORSEN Kristoffer TEAM JOKER s.t.
14 THWAITES Scott BORA-ARGON 18 s.t.
15 CAPIOT Amaury TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN s.t.
16 SUAREZ Kevin SUPERANO HAM-ISOREX s.t.
17 JANS Roy WANTY-GROUPE GOBERT s.t.
18 PEDERSEN Mads STÖLTING SERVICE GROUP s.t.
19 KRUOPIS Aidis VERANDA'S WILLEMS s.t.
20 COLLI Daniele NIPPO-VINI FANTINI s.t.
21 JANSEN Amund Grondahl TEAM JOKER s.t.
22 VEREECKEN Nicolas AN POST-CHAIN REACTION s.t.
23 PASQUALON Andrea TEAM ROTH s.t.
24 OPIE Chris ONE PRO CYCLING s.t.
25 KRIEGER Alexander LEOPARD PRO CYCLING s.t.
26 WASTYN Emiel AN POST-CHAIN REACTION s.t.
27 PAGE Dylan TEAM ROTH s.t.
28 WILSON Edvin TEAM JOKER s.t.
29 STALLAERT Joeri CIBEL-CEBON s.t.
30 FENN Andrew TEAM SKY s.t.
31 SILVESTRE Fabio LEOPARD PRO CYCLING s.t.
32 VERRAES Benjamin CIBEL-CEBON s.t.
33 PARDINI Olivier WALLONIE BRUXELLES s.t.
34 MONTGOMERY David AN POST-CHAIN REACTION s.t.
35 STEVENS Timothy CRELAN-VASTGOEDSERVICE s.t.
36 MARKUS Barry ROOMPOT-ORANJE PELOTON s.t.
37 VAN STEENBERGEN Jori CIBEL-CEBON s.t.
38 STOSZ Patryk CCC SPRANDI POLKOWICE s.t.
39 KIENDYS Tomasz CCC SPRANDI POLKOWICE s.t.
40 BOUCHER David CRELAN-VASTGOEDSERVICE s.t.
41 JULES Justin VERANCLASSIC-AGO s.t.
42 SKAARSETH Anders TEAM JOKER s.t.
43 MAES Nikolas ETIXX-QUICK STEP s.t.
44 STANNUS Jordan AN POST-CHAIN REACTION s.t.
45 NAESEN Lawrence CIBEL-CEBON s.t.
46 MCCARTHY Jay TINKOFF s.t.
47 PALUTA Michal CCC SPRANDI POLKOWICE s.t.
48 WIRTGEN Tom LEOPARD PRO CYCLING s.t.
49 MAIKIN Roman GAZPROM-RUSVELO s.t.
50 LATON Eryk CCC SPRANDI POLKOWICE s.t.
51 FARAZIJN Maxime TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN s.t.
52 TRUSOV Nikolay TINKOFF s.t.
53 GULDHAMMER Rasmus STÖLTING SERVICE GROUP s.t.
54 CECCHIN Alberto TEAM ROTH s.t.
55 VAN HOECKE Gijs TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN s.t.
56 MEURISSE Xandro CRELAN-VASTGOEDSERVICE s.t.
57 MROZEK Marcin CCC SPRANDI POLKOWICE s.t.
58 DE HAES Kenny WANTY-GROUPE GOBERT s.t.
59 KOLÁR Michal TINKOFF s.t.
60 NAPOLITANO Danilo WANTY-GROUPE GOBERT s.t.
61 KREDER Wesley ROOMPOT-ORANJE PELOTON s.t.
62 WISNIOWSKI Lukasz ETIXX-QUICK STEP s.t.
63 VAN KEIRSBULCK Guillaume ETIXX-QUICK STEP s.t.
64 VAN GINNEKEN Sjoerd ROOMPOT-ORANJE PELOTON s.t.
65 VAN GOETHEM Brian ROOMPOT-ORANJE PELOTON s.t.
66 BOVENHUIS Jasper AN POST-CHAIN REACTION s.t.
67 SAGAN Juraj TINKOFF s.t.
68 STACCHIOTTI Riccardo NIPPO-VINI FANTINI s.t.
69 VAN HECKE Preben TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN s.t.
70 KIRSCH Alex STÖLTING SERVICE GROUP s.t.
71 SPANOPOULOS Ioannis VERANCLASSIC-AGO s.t.
72 KRIZEK Matthias TEAM ROTH s.t.
73 MANAKOV Viktor GAZPROM-RUSVELO s.t.
74 DOMAGALSKI Karol ONE PRO CYCLING s.t.
75 WILLIAMS Peter ONE PRO CYCLING s.t.
76 HONIG Reinier ROOMPOT-ORANJE PELOTON s.t.
77 MCCONVEY Connor AN POST-CHAIN REACTION s.t.
78 BROCKHOFF Jan LEOPARD PRO CYCLING s.t.
79 WILLIAMS Samuel ONE PRO CYCLING s.t.
80 SVENDGAARD Michael Carbel STÖLTING SERVICE GROUP s.t.
81 TOMIO Giacomo TEAM ROTH s.t.
82 TANKINK Bram LOTTO NL-JUMBO s.t.
83 DE NEGRI Pier Paolo NIPPO-VINI FANTINI s.t.
84 SOLOMENNIKOV Andrei GAZPROM-RUSVELO s.t.
85 WILSON Jack AN POST-CHAIN REACTION s.t.
86 DE ROOZE Niels VERANCLASSIC-AGO s.t.
87 MOSCON Gianni TEAM SKY s.t.
88 FORFANG Ole TEAM JOKER s.t.
89 BOEV Igor GAZPROM-RUSVELO s.t.
90 WYNANTS Maarten LOTTO NL-JUMBO s.t.
91 VELITS Martin ETIXX-QUICK STEP s.t.
92 JACOBS Pieter CRELAN-VASTGOEDSERVICE s.t.
93 DE BIE Sean LOTTO SOUDAL s.t.
94 STEPNIAK Grzegorz CCC SPRANDI POLKOWICE s.t.
95 GARDEYN Gorik SUPERANO HAM-ISOREX s.t.
96 CHEVALIER Olivier WALLONIE BRUXELLES s.t.
97 MATZKA Ralf BORA-ARGON 18 s.t.
98 ROBERT Frederique CRELAN-VASTGOEDSERVICE s.t.
99 LANDER Sebastian ONE PRO CYCLING s.t.
100 LINDAU Philip TEAM JOKER s.t.
101 SCHWARZMANN Michael BORA-ARGON 18 s.t.
102 DIELEMAN Michiel CIBEL-CEBON s.t.
103 VAN BREUSSEGEM Elias VERANDA'S WILLEMS s.t.
104 WAGNER Robert LOTTO NL-JUMBO s.t.
105 DEMPSTER Zakkari BORA-ARGON 18 s.t.
106 LENNERTZ Sam VERANCLASSIC-AGO s.t.
107 TENBROCK Jonas STÖLTING SERVICE GROUP s.t.
108 KEISSE Iljo ETIXX-QUICK STEP s.t.
109 MARTINELLI Davide ETIXX-QUICK STEP s.t.
110 SCHILLINGER Andreas BORA-ARGON 18 s.t.
111 CERNY Josef CCC SPRANDI POLKOWICE s.t.
112 RICKAERT Jonas TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN s.t.
113 KERKHOF Tim ROOMPOT-ORANJE PELOTON s.t.
114 SCOTT Jacob AN POST-CHAIN REACTION s.t.
115 GOSS Matthew Harley ONE PRO CYCLING s.t.
116 VAN DER SANDE Tosh LOTTO SOUDAL s.t.
117 LELEU Antoine VERANCLASSIC-AGO 0:00:29
118 WALLAYS Jelle LOTTO SOUDAL 0:00:30
119 KNEES Christian TEAM SKY s.t.
120 VEUCHELEN Frederik WANTY-GROUPE GOBERT s.t.
121 HOELGAARD Markus TEAM JOKER s.t.
122 MINNAARD Marinus Cornelis WANTY-GROUPE GOBERT s.t.
123 HUZARSKI Bartosz BORA-ARGON 18 s.t.
124 CAMPENAERTS Victor LOTTO NL-JUMBO s.t.
125 EIJSSEN Yannick CRELAN-VASTGOEDSERVICE s.t.
126 ARMEE Sander LOTTO SOUDAL s.t.
127 MORABITO Massimo LEOPARD PRO CYCLING s.t.
128 DUQUENNOY Jimmy WALLONIE BRUXELLES s.t.
129 BAUGNIES Jérôme WANTY-GROUPE GOBERT s.t.
130 VANDEN BAK Laurent LEOPARD PRO CYCLING s.t.
131 DONDERS Jelle SUPERANO HAM-ISOREX s.t.
132 DE WINTER Ludwig WALLONIE BRUXELLES 0:00:38
133 DE BONDT Dries VERANDA'S WILLEMS s.t.
134 VAN ZUMMEREN Stef VERANDA'S WILLEMS s.t.
135 CORDEEL Sander VERANDA'S WILLEMS s.t.
136 ISTA Kevin WALLONIE BRUXELLES s.t.
137 KNOX James TEAM WIGGINS 0:00:42
138 NIKOLAEV Sergey GAZPROM-RUSVELO s.t.
139 SHALUNOV Evgeny GAZPROM-RUSVELO s.t.
140 MORTENSEN Martin ONE PRO CYCLING s.t.
141 REIHS Michael STÖLTING SERVICE GROUP s.t.
142 GEERINCKX Ruben SUPERANO HAM-ISOREX s.t.
143 TOUQUET Joren SUPERANO HAM-ISOREX s.t.
144 CIOLEK Gerald STÖLTING SERVICE GROUP s.t.
145 BOECKMANS Kris LOTTO SOUDAL 0:00:50
146 HOLOHAN Liam TEAM WIGGINS 0:00:53
147 LOWE Samuel TEAM WIGGINS s.t.
148 DUFRASNE Jonathan WALLONIE BRUXELLES s.t.
149 DRON Boris WANTY-GROUPE GOBERT s.t.
150 CALLEEUW Joeri VERANDA'S WILLEMS s.t.
151 CHRISTIAN Mark TEAM WIGGINS s.t.
152 OLESEN Patrick LEOPARD PRO CYCLING s.t.
153 PEYSKENS Dimitri VERANCLASSIC-AGO s.t.
154 LEGLEY Matthias VERANCLASSIC-AGO s.t.
155 BOUWMAN Koen LOTTO NL-JUMBO s.t.
156 STIEN Adrian Aas TEAM JOKER s.t.
157 CASTELIJNS Twan LOTTO NL-JUMBO s.t.
158 BIALOBLOCKI Marcin ONE PRO CYCLING s.t.
159 HARRISON Samuel TEAM WIGGINS s.t.
160 THOMPSON Michael TEAM WIGGINS s.t.
161 GOGL Michael TINKOFF s.t.
162 VIOLA Antonio NIPPO-VINI FANTINI s.t.
163 VANDENBOGAERDE Jens SUPERANO HAM-ISOREX s.t.
164 VAN POPPEL Danny TEAM SKY 0:01:02
165 DEVRIENDT Tom WANTY-GROUPE GOBERT 0:01:18
166 STASSEN Julien WALLONIE BRUXELLES 0:01:32
167 DE TROYER Tim VERANDA'S WILLEMS 0:01:47
168 DE PAUW Moreno TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN 0:02:14
169 BERLATO Giacomo NIPPO-VINI FANTINI 0:02:20
170 KUBOKI Kazushige NIPPO-VINI FANTINI s.t.
171 PETERS Alex TEAM SKY s.t.
172 SLIK Ivar ROOMPOT-ORANJE PELOTON 0:03:05
173 SOENENS Alessandro SUPERANO HAM-ISOREX s.t.
174 MARCHAND Gianni CIBEL-CEBON 0:03:45
175 RUIJGH Rob CRELAN-VASTGOEDSERVICE s.t.