Oded Kogut wrapped up the Sibiu Cycling Tour with the team’s best result of the race, sprinting to a strong third place on the final stage in Sibiu.
Despite a tougher race than expected, the team delivered an impressive collective performance throughout the day. Kiaan Watts animated the stage by joining the early breakaway, while the rest of the team controlled the race and protected Kogut ahead of the finale.
In the closing kilometres, the team executed a perfect lead-out, positioning Kogut ideally for the final corner. Launching his sprint with 500 metres to go, the Israeli rider opened a gap on his rivals but was narrowly caught in the final metres, crossing the line in third.
Oded Kogut said: “It was quite a harder day than we expected, but luckily I had a really great team supporting me. Kiaan went into a very good breakaway and the others covered me the whole day before giving me the best lead-out into the last corner. I came through the final turn with a lot of speed, with 500 metres to go, so I had to start my sprint early and hope I could open enough of a gap. Unfortunately, I came up just a little bit short.”
The podium finish marks NSN Development Team’s best result of this year’s Sibiu Cycling Tour and a rewarding way to conclude a good week of racing.