Development Kamiel Eeman wins the Peace Race in the Czech Republic after two stage victories
The final stage started according to plan for the Belgian national team, which began the day with Eeman leading the general classification. “The start of the stage was perfect for us. A small breakaway went clear and we had the situation under control,” Eeman reflected. “After around sixty kilometres, the other teams started putting us under pressure. From that point on, it was no longer about controlling the race, but about staying alert and responding to every attack.”
In the finale, the riders tackled a local circuit five times, featuring a demanding climb on each lap. Thanks to the strong work of his teammates, Eeman was able to approach the decisive moments of the race with confidence. “The guys did a fantastic job throughout the day. That allowed me to start the final lap feeling relatively fresh, which was crucial on such a demanding course. Even then, it wasn’t easy to stay calm and avoid wasting energy.”
On the final lap, second-placed Adam Rafferty launched a strong attack, but Eeman was able to follow. “Rafferty went all-out on the final climb, but I managed to stay with him over the top. We rode together to the finish, where I was able to finish the job in the sprint.”
With his stage victory, Eeman not only secured the overall title and the points classification, but also crowned a highly successful week with the Belgian national team, alongside Mauro Cuylits and Milan Donie. “I had an amazing week. The atmosphere within the team was excellent and everyone contributed to this result. That makes this victory even more special.”
Eeman won both the queen stage to Dlouhé StránÄ› and the final stage to Šternberk, building a ten-second advantage over Rafferty in the final general classification.
It marks another prestigious Belgian success in the Peace Race. Following victories by Lennert Van Eetvelt in 2022 and Bjorg Lambrecht in 2017, Eeman now adds his name to an impressive list of winners.
Photo: ZavoÄ Míru U23
