CYCLING – Bahrain Victorious Development Team rider Kasper Borremans powered to a sensational victory yesterday in the sixth and penultimate stage of the 62nd Tour de l’Avenir in France.
The Finn triumphed in the 149-kilometre leg to secure the maiden win for the kingdom’s squad in the elite men’s under-23 road race, which heads into its finale today.
Borremans led Polish teammate Jan Michal Jackowiak to a double podium yesterday, with Jackowiak securing third place for Bahrain Victorious Development Team.
Borremans completed the distance in a time of four hours 33 minutes and 43 seconds – three seconds ahead of runner-up Jasper Schoofs of Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team and 19 seconds in front of Jackowiak.
Amongst the squad’s other members, Hungarian Balint Feldhoffer finished 36th, and Austrian Valentin Hofer and Italian Thomas Capra followed in 105th and 106th, respectively.
With those results, Jackowiak climbed 11 places to sixth on the race’s general classification (GC), which is led by Lorenzo Mark Finn of Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe Rookies.
Borremans also made a significant leap in the GC, rising 17 spots to 11th overall.
The pair are also top contenders in the King of the Mountains ranking, where Borremans is third with 26 points and Jackowiak fourth on 24, and in the best young rider standings where Jackowiak is fifth and Borremans eighth.
Capra is currently in first place on the race’s points ranking with 52, while Bahrain Victorious Development Team improved 11 places to third on the team’s standings.
The Tour de l’Avenir wraps up today with stage seven, to be held across 127.8km to close the full 938.1km race distance.
Bahrain Victorious Development Team are part of Team Bahrain Victorious’ commitment to growing young talent in cycling and setting them up for success as they look to enter the UCI World Tour.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh