Heerenveen PowerPlay Race

Last night Mick Byrne (AUS) raced the Power Play Trophee competition, which was in conjunction with a cycling tournament around the famous Heerenveen sports stadium. It was a very ‘hairy’ course with 4 sharp left hand corners, cobble stones, speed bumps, tiled sections and chicanes made from metal gates. This race was only for the A men, to promote the Power-play company. It was freezing cold - 12 degrees, which is crazy right now as we’ve been having 22-25 degree days, and was one of the strangest races I have seen in a long time. I think it might have had something to do with the fact that the Dutch National Championships start today, so as you can understand none of the Dutch wanted to push themselves.

A break away went from the start with the Frenchman Alexis Contin, Ronan Sanchez (ESP) and Cedric Michaud (NED). They stayed away for the whole race with the peleton 35 seconds behind. Ingmar Burger from Team DSB (NED) who is very well knows as the ‘break away’ specialist, attempted to break away throughout the whole race, but if someone was on his wheel, he would just shut it down. With 10 laps to go, Alain Gloor (SUI) also tried to cross to the break but was soon caught by the peleton. Towards the end of the race, the break away group was almost 1 minute up on the peleton. As the peleton came through the finish line with 2 laps to go, Geert Plender (NED) broke away from the group solo, which then in turn sparked skaters all over the place to get a run for it. The finish sprint was close with Ronan Sanchez (ESP) winning the lunge from Alexis Contin 2nd (FRA), and third Cedric Michaud (NED). Geert Plender (NED) held his 4th place as the rest of the peleton, meter’s back, came through the line one by one. So there was really no field sprint, just a lot of little breaks here and there. Mick said he felt tired and a little empty from the day before but for sure will be ready for Sundays race in Wolvega.

Heerenveen PowerPlay Trophee Mens A

1. Ronan Sanchez (ESP) Timmerman Powerslide
2. Alexis Contin (FRA) Powerslide World
3. Cedric Michaud (NED) Nefit

16. Michael Byrne (AUS) Unive/Stouwdam/CadoMotus

For full results click here