Sandy Dujardin Claims Victory at Rain-Soaked Maryland Cycling Classic
Baltimore, MD – September 3, 2023 – In a race dramatically reshaped by a mid-race downpour, Sandy Dujardin (TotalEnergies) surged to a thrilling sprint victory at the Maryland Cycling Classic presented by BGE today. After a chaotic final lap marked by attrition and aggressive moves, Dujardin outkicked a select group of survivors to secure the biggest win of his career.
The 120.8-mile race, featuring six laps of a challenging Baltimore city centre circuit, began under hot and humid conditions. An early breakaway formed on the second lap, with Oscar Sevilla (Team Medellin) and Fabian Weiss (Tudor Pro Cycling) establishing a lead that stretched to over five minutes. A determined chase saw a group of eleven riders, including pre-race favorites Brandon McNulty and Neilson Powless (EF education-EasyPost), bridge across to the leaders.
Though, the race’s defining moment arrived on the third lap when a torrential downpour descended, instantly transforming the course into a slippery challenge. A small group containing riders known for their prowess in adverse conditions – riley Sheehan (Israel Premier Tech), Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X), and Marijn van den Berg (EF Education-EasyPost) – seized the opportunity to move to the front. The conditions also impacted several key contenders, with Michael matthews (Jayco-Alula) and Quinn Simmons (Lidl-trek) finding themselves distanced, and Lidl-Trek further hampered by the early exit of Mattias skjelmose.
As the rain subsided, seventeen riders remained at the front, battling both the course and mechanical issues. Neilson Powless suffered a flat tire shortly after a cobbled section on the final lap, forcing him to run with his bike to reach his team car for a replacement.
The decisive moves began halfway through the final lap,with McNulty driving a four-rider attack alongside Dujardin,Guillaume Bovin (Israel Premier Tech),and Marius Mayrhofer (Tudor Pro Cycling).McNulty’s sustained effort whittled the group down to just himself and Dujardin with 20km remaining.A relentless chase led by Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X) and Mauro Schmid (Jayco Alula) quickly brought the duo back into contention, and soon after, Larry Warbasse, Mayrhofer, and Johannessen rejoined, creating a lead group of seven with 5km to go.
Despite the presence of strong finishers like Abrahamsen and Mayrhofer, who also had team support, Dujardin expertly conserved energy on McNulty’s wheel. In a perfectly timed move, he launched a powerful sprint to claim the victory, leaving his rivals behind and etching his name into the Maryland Cycling Classic’s history books.