If you’re waiting to see who gets to wear the pink jersey today… look no further than northern France. Here a 22 year old German rider from Skil-Shimano has won the first three stages of the Four Days of Dunkirk and is wearing the leaders jersey… which is pink.
La vie en rose
He’s also leading the young riders’ classification and has the points jersey too. In short, he’s dominating the race. Full results here. It’s his first year in the pro ranks and he’s started well with a stage win in the Tour of Langkawi and more placings. Prior to this he rode for a team local to him, the Thüringer Energie Team. His best was a bronze medal from the U-23 time trial in the World Championships in Geelong.
It’s true to say the race doesn’t have the deepest field. Kittel is outsprinting Denis Galimzyanov and Yahueni Hutarovich, ahead of many other riders who won’t even appear on the radar for the likes of Mark Cavendish, Tyler Farrar or André Greipel. But three wins in a row is something special and if he’s likely to take the overall in the race, what ever happens today and tomorrow, he can be sure of a higher profile and that his first year with the pros is already a success.
Not a brit in sight, I remember the participation many years ago of british domestic pro teams, not so now, more french and belgian continental teams available to fill the field. Endura seem to be the only brit squad racing in europe? Apart of course from Sky. Yes, good to see a German rider doing well, we need to bring them back into the fold.
Ah, but what a difference a day makes, Thomas in pink! My grandaughter (4 yrs old) must think that all bike racers are called Thomas she has seen Boonen, Geraint and Voeckler leading and winning this season 🙂
The Germans definitely need more to celebrate than Old Man Kloden’s uninspiring stage race victories and even older man Voight’s breakaway exploits.
Germans being the number one economic community in Europe and a very sporting nation, I’d propose not having a World Tour team is like the USA not being in the G8.