Champion System Pro Cycling Team’s Matt Brammeier sprinted to victory out of a three-man breakaway Thursday at the Grote Prijs Dr. Eugeen Roggeman, while teammate Matthias Friedemann also finished in the top 10.
“I really wanted to win and was willing to gamble everything to win,” Brammeier said. “I stayed cool and let the two other guys lead out the sprint. I kicked it with around 200 meters to go and won the sprint comfortably.”
Brammeier, the Irish national road champion, claimed his second win of the season ahead of runner-up Dennis Coenen (Bofrost-Prorace Cycling Team) and Sander Cordeel (Lotto-Belisol). Friedemann finished fifth.
Brammeier escaped with seven riders two laps into the 158-kilometer, 14-lap race. Inside the final 40 km, Friedemann, along with over a dozen other riders, bridged across to the front group. Numerous attacks followed and Brammeier positioned himself in an elite front group of three riders heading into the final lap.
“I’m really happy with my result and condition,” Brammeier said. “Yesterday I was selected to ride the world road race championships, so it’s really satisfying knowing I’m in good shape.”