13 mei 2012  - 

Tour of California 2012

Koen took part in the Amgen Tour of California, America from the 13th to the 20th of May.

The first stage of the 2012 Tour of California kicked off on Sunday May 13th with a 186.5km stage starting and finishing in Santa Rosa. Slovak champion Peter Sagan from Team Liquigas won the sprint to the line, besting Australian Heinrich Haussler and American Freddie Rodriguez. The peloton split during the stage on a steep climb with 40km remaining with Marcel Kittel caught in the second group. Koen stayed with Kittel and worked in the chasing group to try to keep Kittel's hopes for the stage win alive but unfortunately the group never made contact . Koen crossed the line in 110th place together with Kittel and several other Argos-Shimano teammates almost seven minutes after Sagan.

The second stage from San Francisco to Santa Cruz over 188.5 kilometres was marked by a long breakaway attempt by Koen's French teammate, Alexander Geniez. After Geniez was caught by the peloton on the final climb, the peloton broke apart but several riders bridged back up to the peloton in the descent to Bear Creek road, including Koen and his two teammates Dumoulin and Doi. While the big teams such as Garmin and Liquigas lead the peloton, the Argos riders prepared for the sprint. In the tumultuous finale Koen and Dumoulin managed to be very well placed in the sprint and Koen sprinted to 4th while Dumoulin was 8th. Slovak Peter Sagan won the stage once again.  

On the third stage Koen was once again the best classified Dutchman in the results. He and four of his teammates managed to withstand the mountains on the 185 kilometre stage between San Jose and Livermore. Unfortunately sprinter Marcel Kittel was not part of the five that did so Roger Kluge was the designated man that the Argos formation decided to work for in a mass sprint. His teammates brought him to the front during the closing kilometres but he was obstructed coming up to the sprint. In the sprint Koen managed to come to a fine 8th place. Peter Sagan took his third win in a row, besting Heinrich Haussler and Tom Boonen.

It was once again a mass sprint at the end of the 209.5 kilometre stage from Sonora to Clavis. The Argos formation worked in the final 2 kilometres, taking the head of the peloton with Koen planning to lead out his teammate Roger Kluge. Unfortunately there were a few riders that were a little bit faster than Kluge with Sagan once again winning the stage ahead of Heinrich Haussler and Michael Matthews. Tom Boonen was 4th and Kluge 5th. Koen crossed the line in 32nd place. "The lead-out for Kluge was better than the day previously," Koen said after. "It was a long sprint and unfortunately Sagan is unbeatable at the moment."

The fifth stage consisted of a 29.7 kilometre individual time trial in the surrounds of Bakersfield. Koen came 75th in the time trial, 4'37" down on American David Zabriskie who took over the leader's jersey from Peter Sagan.

Koen ended the sixth 186 kilometre stage from Palmdale to Big Bear Lake which contained several tough climbs as part of the "bus." Koen's group crossed the line half an hour after the stage winner. Sprinter Marcel Kittel did not reach the finish, opting out during the stage. Koen tweeted afterwards that he was "starting to notice the lack of racing and training prior to the [race]." Before adding that working through it was "the only way to get better though!"

Dutchman Robert Gesink won took control of the race on the penultimate stage in California. Koen's teammate Tom Dumoulin stayed with the favourites for much of the Queen stage and finished in 28th place, 6'31 seconds after Gesink. Koen crossed the line in the bus in 59th place, 25'40" down. In the general classification which is now led by Gesink, Dumoulin is the best classified Argos-Shimano rider in 23rd place. Koen is in 75th.

The concluding stage took place on Sunday with a 68.5 kilometre stage in Los Angeles. The stage was marked by a breakaway attempt of seven riders. Argos-Shimano were represented in the breakaway by Thomas Damuseau. When the seven were caught, it was clear the stage would end in a mass sprint. Argos-Shimano worked to set up Roger Kluge, making sure he was well placed. Koen was unable to led out Kluge as with 700 metres to go, his tyre went flat, the third time in the final ten kilometres. Peter Sagan won the sprint ahead of Tom Boonen, Gerard Ciolek and Kluge obtaining his fifth stage win of the race. Robert Gesink won the overall classification at the Tour of California ahead of Americans David Zabriskie, Thomas Danielson and Tejay van Garderen. With stage placings of 4th and 8th place as his highlights, Koen finished the race in 75th place overall.

Photo: Koen signs the start list of the first stage (with thanks to Cor Vos)