Day 5 - Starting to Finish

Day 5 saw the slow trickle of riders pick up to a steady stream. Watching the trackers it was hard to work out which of Bas Vlaskamp (cap 1) or Flip Patijn (cap 5) was in front. It looked neck and neck, but the tracker error made it hard to tell. In the end Bas was the first to round the corner into the square in front of Cafe de Proloog.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CEpZWQKFjTo/

Last years winner, Bas, had set out targetting a 72 hour finish, but three punctures on the first night in the north of Groningen, and a broken pump, started what would be a series of small issues that would eventually snowball. On the evening of day three Bas had taken a hotel for a short sleep. He was suffering from shermers neck which was making progress slow. Bas was travelling very lightly, and judging but he colour of his neck, sunblock was one of the items he hadn't brought with him.

Two surprise scratches from the top 10 within quick succession, Berten De Meyer (cap 24), and Lindsay McCrae (cap 142) bumped everyone behind them up two places.

By the end of day five, twenty solo riders had completed the race, as well as half of the 1617 pair, the Frans brothers. Unfortunately Eric had had to scratch in Zeeland.

Further back Marianna Thissen-Smits (cap 49), made good progress through Noord Brabant to finish the day at the base of the Cauberg in Valkenberg. She got a few hours sleep before resuming very early in the morning.

Francien Peterse (cap 10) started the day badly, going back to the hotel to recover a jacket she thought she'd left behind, only to discover it in her bag. At this stage in the race, you really feel any extra distance, so a mistake like this tends to hurt. Coat found, Francien made another consistent 250km to Vlissingen.

https://twitter.com/FP_GDGT/status/1301060973898469379

Florine Koning (cap 58) put in a strong 261km from near Hoorn to Rotterdam. Florine is one of three rides forming a cluster at the tail of the race along with Marian Bobko (cap 61), and Ruerd Kuipers (cap 126).

https://www.instagram.com/p/CEparRYleoS/