Mathias Vacek leads ZLM Tour after second consecutive win

Mathias Vacek of Lidl-Trek has extended his lead in the ZLM Tour following a victory in the second stage. After winning the opening time trial in Kapelle, the Czech rider secured another win in a 194-kilometer stage from Westkapelle to Heinkenszand.

Strong winds caused the peloton to split into several echelons early in the second stage. A breakaway group of thirteen riders eventually formed, which included Vacek and several teammates. In the final sprint, Vacek managed to distance himself from Tim van Dijke of Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe to take the win. Van Dijke expressed disappointment after the race, noting he lacked the energy to overtake Vacek in the final stretch.

Vacek now holds a 45-second lead in the general classification over teammate Max Walscheid and a 56-second lead over Hector Alvarez. He also leads the Skoda youth classification and the PostcodeLoterij points classification.