Fabio Silvestre wins in Ronde de l’Oise

Fabio Silvestre has won the fourth and final stage at the Ronde de l’Oise (UCI 2.2). After an agitated race through rain and win, the 23 years old Portuguese rider won the sprint of a group of six riders that broke away with 90 km to go.

Silvestre: “I feel very happy and proud with this win. Riding a final with such a small group is always tricky and you should never put all your cards on the table. It came down to a sprint and I’m very happy to have won it. The day started off with a puncture which made me lose the first break of the days, and possibly the whole race, but it ended with a win.”

An early break of twenty riders broke clear early on in the stage. Team Manager Adriano Baffi: “We didn’t have anybody in it. The level at this race is high, maybe a notch too high for us. Two days ago we didn’t have anybody in the break either and we brought it back with so much effort that we weren’t able to ride the final anymore. Today, however, we played a bit of poker. Team Europcar didn’t have anyone in the break either, so they took control of the chase and we could sit back.”

When the race passed through a crosswind section, Europcar started making echelon, tearing the field apart. The first echelon, with Silvestre and Piero Baffi in it, managed to bridge to the break and now a group of about 40 riders was at the front of the race.

Baffi: “In a group of 40 riders it’s hard to find someone that wants to ride hard and so it was today. Luckily Fabio anticipated and attacked on a climb.”

Silvestre’s attack split up the group and he found himself with 8 other riders and 90 kilometers to go. “We worked well together and stayed away. In the final we lost three riders, so we sprinted for the win with six. I’m super happy.”

Oliver Hofstetter won the sprint of the chase group, taking seventh place in the stage. Silvestre also takes home the mountain jersey for his ride today.

Silvestre will now travel home to Portugal to prepare for the National Time Trial Championships.

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