Rayner Foundation Duo Bjoern Koerdt and Alfie George were stellar in Le Boucles de l’ Artois this weekend.
First of the two to get off the blocks in the three-stage race in Northern France was Alfie who beat Bjoern in Saturday’s afternoon second stage to win in a sprint. That morning in the first stage Alfie had come 7th. These two placings were enough to put him in the Pink leaders’ jersey. He admitted later in an interview with a French newspaper theatre he was even the designated sprinter for his team but was in a good escape. In the end “I was the quickest. I am super happy”. Alfie comes from Scotland and this year joined SCO Dijon, a team based in the town of that name in the east of France.
Next day another sprint on the third stage into Embry, near Agincourt, saw Bjoern again second but this was enough to give him the overall win for the Boucle. He also clinched the points and youth classifications.
Bjoern, who hails from Leeds in the UK is a member of CC Etupes, another team from the east of France. This team featured in the career of another of our riders, Adam Yates in 2013.
Afterwards Bjoern said: “yes, I’m really happy with the win and to deliver for the team. It’s a step in the right direction. I think the team and I executed the race well and overcame any challenges. Initially it wasn’t a race for me to win. However, after a successful breakaway on the 2nd stage I went into a joint leadership role” As the final stage progressed, a stage more suited for Bjoern than the first stage, decisions were taken by the team which resulted in the win.
He is now looking forward to the forthcoming espoirs version of the Liege Bastogne Liege and the Ronde de l’Isoard.