After their dominance in 2013, Belkin have had a hard time in the 2014 Tour of Hainan. Today the team again came up short when Nick van der Lijke finished 8th in the queen stage.

Nick van der Lijke led the Belkin Pro Cycling TEAM home in the Tour of Hainan’s queen stage today. The young Dutchman crossed the line in eighth behind winner Julien Antomarchi (La Pomme Marseille 13) after a heavy, nearly 200-kilometre ride over the Chinese island. 

“This was the most difficult stage of the week,” said Sports Director Michiel Elijzen said after the stage between Wuzhishan and Dongfang. “During the first hundred kilometres, the pace was very high. Tom Leezer, Nick van der Lijke and Jetse Bol tried very hard to get in the break.” 

Leezer finally managed to claim a place in a leading group.

“Together with three other men, he was able to get away,” said Elijzen. “The lead increased to a maximum of five minutes. Because Astana and La Pomme Marseille kept the break in check, a group of 40 men with around fifty kilometres to go caught them. 

“Nick and Tom started the final climb with the first group. Tom was dropped after his hard work, but Nick managed to hang on for a long time. 

“Looking back on the stage, Tom did great. Nick did well, too, especially when you consider his crash halfway through the day."