Marco Polo Cycling Donckers Koffie team rider Chris Macic finished in 6th place at Woensdrecht this weekend, using the race to test his legs after suffering with a virus during the previous week. The virus had made its way round the team house and left Matt Green and Chris Bartlett out of action. They were both at home with the heating turned up to 11, sporting 6 jumpers, chewing on raw garlic, infusing their tea with ginger and eating as much spicy food as they could handle, because, as everyone knows, that's how you get rid of colds. Fast.
Omloop van het Waasland - 190 km - UCI 1.2 - 11/03/12
The sun was shining for Marco Polo Cycling Donckers Koffie’s first UCI race of the year - the 190 km Omloop van het Waasland. The nice weather was unexpected but very welcome.
Starting from Lokere the race took 2 x 27 km laps switching to a smaller 12 km finishing circuit around Stekene. The speed was high in the beginning and the peloton averaged 45 km/h for the first 2 hours. Moves were forming the whole time and our riders were getting involved up front. With the pace high, many of these came back. The race-winning move was missed when the attack went after a break containing several of our riders was brought back. Matt Green was frustrated to have missed the move on a day where he had the legs, but he’s pleased about his form after a pre-season hat was troubled by injury and a knee operation. The peloton remained animated but no more moves were able to work together and stay away. The race was won by Preben van Hecke of Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator in 4:27. The peloton came in @ 1:10.
Motivation within the team is very high, and we’re looking forwards to a successful 2012!
The Marco Polo Cycling Donckers Koffie riders in action in the Omloop van het Waasland. (photo: Dirk Bruylant)
Donckers Koffie will be the new title sponsor of the Marco Polo Cycling Team in 2012. Thanks to the
new partnership with Donckers Koffie, the UCI Continental team – which has just become the first Ethiopian Continental team after enjoying 10 years of success in China – will be able to race a full
season of a pro-level program in Europe, with additional races in Asia and Africa.
The Marco Polo Cycling Team 2011 with Ethiopian riders racing in Europe. (photo: Remko Kramer)
Key sponsors such
as n°7even Bikes, FFWD wheels, Specialized helmets, CCN uniforms, Frans Hendrickx, Hi
Chew, Dills and WIB will all be supporting Marco Polo Cycling - Donckers Koffie.
The Marco Polo Cycling Donckers Koffie riders in action in the Omloop van het Waasland. (photo: Dirk Bruylant)
