Bjornar Vestol

Norwegian Bjornar Vestol of the Linda McCartney Foods Cycling Team took one of the biggest victories of his career on Sunday when he won the Ronde van Noord Holland.

"I’m so happy! This is a beautiful day for me and the team!" beamed the huge Viking.

"Bjornar has been riding wonderfully well all year without getting any luck," explained his manager Sean Yates. "Today, his persistence and attacking riding paid off at last. It’s a great win, and everybody in the team is delighted."

A great all round Linda McCartney team performance saw Bjornar’s team-mate and friend Tayeb Braikia snatch 5th place to make it a great day.

The race completed a Benelux triptych for the squad, after their solid rides at Ghent-Wevelgem on Wednesday and Pino Cerami on Friday.

"It’s been a tough week up here in the low countries, and it will have done us a power of good in our preparation for the Giro d’Italia," said Sean. "It’s a brilliant bonus to be going away with a win under our belts."

The team now travel to Italy for the extremely competitive Settimana Bergamasca as the next stage of their homework for the big one. Bjornar however is entering his first rest period of the season on the highest possible note. Will he be taking it easy?

"No, I will be able to relax a little bit more without the daily stress of racing, but I intend to really up my training," explained the day’s big winner. "I know how hard the climbing will be at the Giro, and I want to get some big mountain passes under my belt. I will probably spend a few days in the Pyrenees. They’re very handy from the team HQ in Toulouse, and the weather is better there than in the Alps at this time of year." Results...

There was also more good news in the UK, as Welsh Champion Huw Pritchard of the Linda McCartney-WCU development outfit won his team’s first podium place of the year, as he finished 3rd in the prestigious Archer Grand Prix. The race around Buckinghamshire was won by ex-pat Roger Hammond, returning to his old stamping ground with his Belgian Collstrop team. He outsprinted promising young breakaway partner Brian Kenneally of Ireland, whilst Huw gallantly chased his heart out and held off some big names for his third spot.