British Under-23 rider Luke Rowe won the ZLM Tour in the Netherlands on Saturday (April 18).
Rowe won the tough 180km race two seconds ahead of Czech rider Vojtech Hacecky, with American track sensation Taylor Phinney back in fifth, six seconds adrift of Rowe.
19-year-old Rowe was part of a very strong British squad that also included Peter Kennaugh, Steven Burke, Alex Dowsett, Russell Hampton, and Jonathan Mc Evoy, with former pro Max Sciandri as directeur sportif.
The ZLM Tour is part of the Union Cycliste International's Nations Cup - the UCI's road race series for under-23 riders.
Rowe graduated from British Cycling's Olympic Development Programme last year, and now rides for BC's academy, based in Tuscany. Rowe scored a silver medal in the European junior road race championships in Italy last July, as well as a string of great results on the track and tarmac.
ZLM TOUR 2009: RESULTS
1. Luke Rowe (GB) in 4-13-58
2. Vojtech Hacecky (Cze) at 2secs
3. John Degenkolb (Ger) at 6secs
4. Elia Viviani (Ita)
5. Taylor Phinney (USA)
6. Marko Kump (Slo)
7. Andrey Klyuev (Rus)
8. Siarhei Papok (Blr) at same time
9. Alexander Kristoff (Nor) at 9secs
10. Timofey Kritskiy (Rus) at same time.
RELATED LINKS
Great Britain Academy begins road season in Italy
Academy riders wrap-up first Tuscan training camp
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