Klemme wins Le Samyn for Leopard-Trek

Germany’s Dominic Klemme celebrated a solo victory at the GP Samyn overnight to put Leopard Trek on the board for the 2011 season.

The 24-year-old attacked on the final climb of the 193.1km race into Dour passing Belgium’s Kevyn Ista (Cofidis) who finished eight seconds off the pace for second.

Klemme’s Leopard Trek team-mate Robert Wagner finished third in what was a successful day for the new ProTeam outfit that silenced critics questioning its lack of victories this season.

Bjorn Leukemans (Vacansoleil) made what looked to be a decisive move 60km from the uphill finish but was joined by a group of riders with 6km remaining.

Ista escaped from the breakaway only to be caught by Klemme in the final kilometre.

“I’m super happy,” Klemme said.

“I had cramps in the final kilometres, but I knew I had to hang in there because everyone was half dead back in the chase. I wasn’t sure my attack was going to last until the finish line, but the top of the climb was visible, so I could see the finish all the time. I was super motivated to win this one for us.”

Team sports director Lars Michaelsen was equally pleased with the result in Belgium.

“I asked the riders to stay in the front of the race at all times. We all had our minds set on winning from the first kilometre,” Michaelsen said.

“When we reached the local circuit, I asked the team to close the gap on the breakaway group. They were very alert and I have to congratulate them all. We have a lot to be proud of today”.

Results

1. Dominic Klemme (Leopard Trek) 4:43:44, 2. Kevin Ista (Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne) 0:00:08, 3. Robert Wagner (Leopard Trek) 0:00:09, 4. Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Quickstep), 5. Yauheni Hutarovich (FDJ), 6. Lloyd Mondory (AG2R La Mondiale), 7. Jimmy Casper (Saur - Sojasun) 0:00:11, 8. Sébastien Chavanel (Europcar), 9. Adrien Petit (Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne), 10. Aleksejs Saramotins (Cofidis Le Credit En Ligne) 0:00:12.