Adam Blythe ends a strong season in Belgium
One-hundred-and-tweny-three out of the 130 riders competing at the Nationale Sluitingprijs-Putte-Kapellen in Belgium were awarded the same time at the finish line and the final seven riders were scattered over the next few minutes.
British cyclist Adam Blythe won the race on Tuesday, his fourth victory of the season.
“I took two stages and the overall win at the Circuit Franco-Belge earlier this month. Today is the fourth time I’ve been on the top step of the podium; maybe the season should last a little longer for me!” said Blythe. “No, seriously,
enough is enough. This victory is a nice end to a successful season.”
The Omega Pharma-Lotto rider took a surprise victory at the Circuit Franco-Belge ahead of Wouter Weylandt and Stefan van Dijck, but found that his sprint win at the head of the entire pack in a one-day race was a much more satisfying
victory. In his final race of the season, he was joined on the podium by van Dijck for the second time. Dutchman Wim Stroetinga finished the race in third.
"The sprint that I won yesterday was a little more convincing. I won it by a full bike length and I was clear from the field rather than just a dip on the line sort of thing," said Blythe. "It was a nice feeling, last race of the season for me and the last
race in Belgium, that made it special."
It was Blythe’s first season as a professional and he proved that race-winning career is ahead. He secured the ninth Omega Pharma-Lotto victory of the season, eight of them split evenly between the British rider and Belgian Philippe
Gilbert, a favourite for Sunday’s Giro di Lombardia.
"It's not a competition to see who gets the most wins out of the team,” said Blythe. “All I'm trying to do is win and help get as many as we can as a team. I just try to do my best for the team at every race.”
2011 will be his second season with Omega Pharma-Lotto, though one of his major supporters, countryman Charles Wegelius, will be moving to American Continental team UnitedHealthcare-Maxxis.
"Charly did help me this year, especially at the training camps at the start of the season," said Blythe. "I actually only ended up doing one race with him, at the Giro. It was nice having him there, he's a helpful guy and he knows a lot about riding a bike.
It's sad to see him go, but I'm sure I'll stay in touch with him."
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