James Lowsley-Williams survived a gruelling UCI 1.HC Ronde van Drenthe to finish 34th in Hoogeveen.
The Canyon Eisberg star crossed the line in a much-reduced main bunch, just 19 seconds adrift of the triumphant Frantisek Sisr, of CCC Sprandi Polkowice.
Vérandas Willems-Crelan’s Dries de Bondt was second and Preben van Hecke, of Sport Vlaanderen – Baloise, third as 10 escapees held on to a narrow advantage over the peloton.
Just as in Dorpenomloop Rucphen a few minutes earlier, the main group came up a handful of seconds short in a thrilling pursuit.
Lowsley-Williams was the last remaining member of the team in the peloton, which numbered just 47 by the end of the high-class 192km race out of Emmen.
Max Stedman was 79th at 7min 24sec, while Dexter Gardias was 93rd at 7.31 as only 102 riders completed the contest – now the biggest of its kind in Holland.
Chris Opie, Alex Paton, Jack Pullar and Harry Tanfield had earlier retired from the race, which was upgraded to 1.HC this season. Click here for the full result.
