O'Bee scores in Hell of the North (Way North)
Navigators Insurance's Kirk O'Bee scored the 2nd step of the podium today in the 43rd Ronde Van Drenthe, held in the far northeastern corner of Holland. The race, modeled after a similar event held in France, is known as much for its 12 sections of demanding pave, totaling 28Km, as for the 4 trips up the 23% Vamberg climb. On his way to 2nd place in the race, Kirk also took the KOM jersey for his display of power on the steep pitch of the "Vam."

The race, officially titled: 43rd Internationale Albert Achterhes Profronde Ronde Van Drenthe, takes the riders over 202Km throughout the Midden Drenthe region with several trips through the northern European city of Hoogeveen.

This race is not for the timid as the distance, wind, mud, pave and narrow roads all but guarantee that only the toughest survive. Following heavy overnight rains, 24 teams took to the start under a sky of mixed sun and clouds with cold winds coming from the northwest. The action began almost immediately as the first KOM sprint was held just 9Km into the race on the edge of Hoogeveen, following the 7Km neutral start. The peloton was strung out as the racers zig-zagged through the fertile farmlands on their way to the first section of pave at Km-72.

A breakaway group of 8 were able to escape the grasp of the peloton heading into section-1, and had a gap approaching 2-minutes on the rest. That's about the time the snow started to fall. Once on the pave, the Navigators Insurance squad took control of the front, as much for the best line over the large, muddy, slippery stones, as for ensuring that the leaders didn't gain too much time. The leaders maintained their advantage through the half-way point at Exloo, as they made the loop around the city before heading back toward Hoogeveen. Six sections of pave already covered, they would now reverse direction and hit the same bone-jarring rocks and mud once more. The damage to the peloton was severe as the riders negotiated the rocks, mud, holes, ruts and each other as they raced across pave in sections as long as 4Km.

The many punctures, crashes and splits took their toll in the Navigators-led peloton, as only about 100 of the nearly 200 riders were still in the race. The leaders still maintained their advantage throughout, until disaster struck with only 2 sections of pave remaining. Five of the 8 in the lead group crashed out on a particularly slippery section, but the three remaining riders carried on. Once back on smooth roads, their advantage evaporated quickly as the race took on a new face. The main peloton split into several large groups with the strongest riders always pushing toward the front. The speed of the race never let up as the attacks and subsequent escape of groups numbering about 6-10 riders were keeping the others chasing.

Approaching the 2nd trip up the "Vam", the action continued to heat up and even more damage was done to the field. The first run back into Hoogeveen saw 9 leaders gaining on the quickly shrinking peloton. Three more made it across the gap including Navigators' Kirk O'Bee to make it 3 of the men-in-blue in front, as he joined Mark Walters and Siro Camponogara. The race then headed back out to the "Vam" for 2 short loops followed by the final run-in to Hoogeveen for the finish.

The gap back to the Barloworld-led chase held at 30-seconds until just before reaching the "Vam" for the 3rd time. Going over the top, the leaders were charging hard and the chasers were charging harder, causing another re-shuffle at the front. Once the dust had settled on the short, flat loop back to tackle the 4th and final ascent of the "Vam", the final selection had been made.

With only 10Km left to race, the lead group was now 10 strong, with Navigators' Kirk O'Bee being joined by Matteo Carrera and Rene Joergensen (both Barloworld), Cezary Zamana (Intel-Action), Marcel Sieberg (Team Lamonta), Sven Renders (Landbouwkredit-Colnago), Christian Knees (Weisenhof), Marc Demaar and Tom Veelers (both Rabobank) and Jos Luccasen (AXA Cycling Team).

The final run-in was fast and furious, and even with 17 teams missing out on the selection, the 10 leaders were able to put 1:30 on the chasers at the line. The final sprint was an exciting one for the crowd on the narrow road, as Sieberg edged out Navigators' Kirk O'Bee for the win, followed by Veelers in the 3rd spot. Celebrating his birthday on the podium, O'Bee also donned the KOM jersey before joining in on the Champagne celebration.

1. Marcel Sieberg (Team Lamonta)
2. Kirk O'Bee (Navigators Insurance)
3. Tom Veelers (Rabobank)