Söderqvist extends Eneco Tour lead with another TT masterclass

Jakob Söderqvist (Lidl-Trek) extended his lead atop the overall standings at the Eneco Tour by powering to victory in the stage 2 time trial in Tilburg. 

The Swede averaged 54km/h as he hurtled around the 13.6km course to complete a time trial double at the Eneco Tour after his victory in Tuesday evening’s prologue.

Söderqvist beat Finn Fisher-Black (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) by 11 seconds, with Ethan Hayter (Soudal Quick-Step) taking third on the same time.

In the overall standings, Söderqvist is now 14 seconds clear of Hayter and 15 ahead of Fisher-Black. 

The Visma Lease a Bike duo of Victor Campenaerts and Christophe Laporte battled to limit their losses on the stage, and they both lie 29 seconds down on Söderqvist on GC, in seventh and eighth place respectively.

Söderqvist was the last man down the start ramp as race leader and he knew that Fisher-Black’s was the time to beat. 

A crash arguably cost Söderqvist a medal in the time trial at the World Championships in Montreal, but that didn’t mean he was averse to taking risks here. Even after coming through the intermediate check with a lead of six seconds over Fisher-Black, Söderqvist continued to push through the corners on the tail-end of the course, and he was forced into a save on a late tight right-hander.

Nothing could knock him off his stride. The former under-23 world champion was smooth and without peer as he cruised to his eighth pro win. 

He remains on course for a second GC win of the year at the Eneco Tour after his triumph at the Tour of Hungary, though he knows he will face a fierce battle on the more rugged terrain to come.