Ronde van het Groene Hart 2008

Tomas Vaitkus of the Astana Cycling Team was the fastest rider in the 2nd Campina Ronde van het Groene Hart (Holland), UCI 1.1 race. Vaitkus was the strongest sprinter of 51 riders in Woerden.

The podium featured Vaitkus on the top step, with last year’s winner Wouter Weylandt finishing second and Bobbie Traksel third. Tomas Vaitkus was active during the entire race and not even the cold temperatures and snow could affect him. Vaitkus is just in time ready for the important Flemish races of the coming weeks.

“The entire Astana Cycling Team worked hard the whole day”, said a happy team director Viatcheslav Ekimov after the 204 km long race. “Michael Schär was the first attacker of the day. In the last kilometers, René Haselbacher and Michael Schär neutralized an escape of Steven de Jongh. Our seven riders were very attentive during the day, as the peloton broke constantly in many parts. Tomas's win is a real team victory.”

It is the former U23 World Time Trial Champion's second season victory after his stage win in the Tour of Algarve. “I was really motivated but I had a good feeling, the whole day long. I'm a bit surprised that I felt this well since I had to travel by car from Spain to Holland. I think this confirms that I'm ready for Waregem and Harelbeke.”

“If this can help, we will send Tomas back to Spain – by car – the days before the Tour of Flanders”, joked Viatcheslav Ekimov.

1. 61 Tomas Vaitkus, AST 4.34'44"  
2. 1 Wouter Weylandt, QSI 4.34'44"  
3. 158 Bobbie Traksel, FPT 4.34'44"  
4. 85 Niko Eeckhout, TSV 4.34'44"  
5. 53 Elio Rigotto, MRM 4.34'44"  
6. 101 Stefan, Van Dijk MIT 4.34'44"  
7. 25 Jurgen Roelandts, SIL 4.34'44"  
8. 77 Tom Veelers, SKS 4.34'44"  
9. 83 Kristof Goddaert, TSV 4.34'44"  
10. 14 Mathew Hayman, RAB 4.34'44"  
11. 27  Roy Sentjens, SIL 4.34'44"  
12. 78 Robert Wagner, SKS 4.34'44"  
13. 47 Frantisek Rabon, THS 4.34'44"  
14. 33 Michael Blaudzun, CSC 4.34'44"  
15. 121 Max Van Heeswijk, WIL 4.34'44"  
16. 82 Kenny De Haes, TSV 4.34'44"  
17. 144 Johnny Hoogerland, VVE 4.34'44"  
18. 38 Anders Lund, CSC 4.34'51"  
19. 23 Nick Gates, SIL 4.34'52"  
20.  131 Marco Bos, CJP 4.34'52"  
Best Brit
43. 97 Ian Stannard, LAN 4.34'52" 8"

Website - www.rondevanhetgroenehart.nl