Team News: Stewart 11th in Normandie

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After a tumultuous week for Madison Genesis, Tom Stewart finished 11th on general classification at the Tour de Normandie, following a sixth and final selective stage.

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Team News: Stewart 11th in Normandie

After a tumultuous week for Madison Genesis, Tom Stewart finished 11th on general classification at the Tour de Normandie, following a sixth and final selective stage.

Stewart was the only team member to complete the seven-day stage race in the north of France after a seemingly never-ending string of bad luck, which saw Erick Rowsell and Taylor Gunman retire through sickness on the final day.

A week that had started so strongly for the team – with Stewart, Rowsell and Blain placing well in the opening prologue – began to unravel before the race had truly begun.

Tristan Robbins was forced to leave the tour with sickness ahead of stage one and an unwell Alex Blain followed soon after. By stage four the departure of Felix English left the team at half strength. All week uncharacteristic good weather and gentle winds combined to keep the race together, denying Stewart and Rowsell the chance to improve their position on general classification.

It was only on the penultimate stage when normal service resumed, with gusting winds, rain and attacking racing decimating the standings. They were conditions Stewart reveled in, however a mechanical for Erick Rowsell just as the attacks were being made ended his challenge for the top placings.

Going into the final stage the peloton fractured once more, but with 24 in the leading group on the road – including eventual race winner Baptiste Planckaert (Wallonie Bruxxels) – there would be no chance to gain further time. Speaking after the race, Stewart remained positive about the outcome of a race, which seven days previous would have been nearing a worst-case scenario.

“It goes without saying that I’m disappointed for everyone else in the team, that they didn’t get the chance to race through no fault of their own” Stewart explained. “But on a personal level, I’m happy with my performances throughout – especially in the time trial and the final two days.”

Stewart went on to describe racing against teams of six with a depleted squad as “an almost impossible task” but remained philosophical about the week as a whole. “These races – you have to be in it to win it. We came here with a strong team and what happened was unfortunate and out of our control. We have to remember that and remember that it is only our first race of the year – the positive is that we now have racing in our legs and we can look to a long year ahead, with a lot of opportunities to perform and hopefully some good fortune as well.”

Result – Tour de Normandie stage six

1. Timothy Dupont (Vernadas Wilmes) 03:23.50
—–
15. Tom Stewart ST
DNF Taylor Gunman
DNF Erick Rowsell

Tour de Normandie general classification – after six stages

1. Baptiste Planckaert (Wallonie Bruxxels) 25:27.54
—–
11. Tom Stewart

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