The Czech rider's win rounded out an impressive race
Mathias Vacek has capped a superb week for Lidl-Trek by winning the overall classification at the ZLM Tour, bringing home a result that underlines the strength and depth of the team’s performance throughout the race.
The Czech rider laid the foundations for victory on the opening stage, dominating the 21.1-kilometre individual time trial in Kapelle to take the first leader’s jersey. It was an outstanding team performance, with Jakob Söderqvist finishing third, Max Walscheid fourth and Héctor Álvarez fifth.
Vacek then doubled his stage-winning tally on Stage 2, taking another victory after a hard-fought day shaped by crosswinds and echelons. The result strengthened his grip on the overall classification and gave Lidl-Trek its second consecutive stage win.
The team’s winning run continued on Stage 3, with Walscheid taking his turn in the spotlight. After another aggressive day of racing, Lidl-Trek put multiple riders into the decisive move before Walscheid delivered the finishing blow in the sprint. Vacek also finished in the front group to retain the overall lead.
With Vacek safely defending the yellow jersey through the final stage, Lidl-Trek completed a remarkable week in the Netherlands. Vacek finished as the overall winner, while Walscheid rounded out a Lidl-Trek one-two in second place overall.
Three stage victories from the opening three days, combined with a commanding performance across the entire race, made the ZLM Tour a showcase of the team’s strength, versatility and commitment. From the time trial to the wind-exposed stages and the fast finishes, Lidl-Trek was consistently at the sharp end of the action.
Vacek’s overall victory provides the perfect finish to a week in which the entire team played a part — and one that saw Lidl-Trek leave its mark on the ZLM Tour from start to finish.
In the winner's words
It has been such an amazing week for the team and I really enjoyed racing. The main goal for me was the TT and I got quite a nice lead there. We had a lot of guys in the top-5 in the TT and we wanted to keep that up and go for the GC also.
There has been a lot of echelon action in the wind especially in the first two stages where it really split, but we had a really strong team and we supported each other which was the most important thing and we could always finish it off with a great result.
Three stage wins is amazing and it couldn't be much better, I am super happy for the team, I really enjoyed it and everything was great. Now we look forward to the World Championships and that gives me big motivation for the next goals. I am super happy to win this race.
