In the dying hours of Tuesday evening in Rotterdam's famous Ahoy Stadium, the home pairing of 34 year-old Peter Schep and 26 year-old Wim Stroetinga proved too fast for Swiss strongman Franco Marvulli and his Dutch partner, Jens Mouris, and earned them the 26th edition of the Rotterdam six day race.
Taking an emotional third place on the podium was five time-winner of his home race, Danny Stam. He was partnered with his up and coming countryman Yoeri Havik, and was riding the event for the last time in his career.
Super smooth Schep, a former world points champion and rapid finisher Stroetinga, twice a medallist in the world scratch championship, formed the classic six day partnership of pursuiter and sprinter.
The three podium teams were level on laps coming into the last 50 circuits of the 200 metre boards; there was little to chose between the winners and their runners-up on points and it was apparent that the race would be decided in the sprints.
Stam and Havik tried to take the lap which would have won them the race, but the pair were desperately tired and the two pairs ahead of them were too vigilant for the move to work.
Zurich winner Marvulli took the lap sprints with 30 and 20 laps to go but Stroetinga was right beside him on the line on both occasions. The Dutchman was too quick for "Marvellous Marvulli" in the 10 laps to go and finishing sprints.
VeloNation asked Stroetinga if he was worried when the Swiss stole the first two sprints from him. He said things were under control. “Normally I'm faster than him but in those two sprints he was good,” he stated. “But I was too strong for him in the last two…coming in to the last one, Peter did a double turn so as I would be fresh for the sprint and it worked perfectly for us.'
Marvulli was philosophical in defeat; “The race was really decided with around 25 minutes to go when Jens and I went for the lap to put us level - it took us 20 laps and cost us a lot of effort.
“I think I won the first two sprints through desperation, I knew I had to win them to put us in contention but when Wim took the ten laps to go sprint I knew it was over for us.
“Credit to Peter and Wim, they rode a clever, tactical race all week and saved their energy well.”
Home rider Nick Stöpler, who badly injured his knee in a crash earlier in the week, visited the race for the finale. Although in good spirits, it will take six weeks before it can be assessed how successful surgery has been.
The six day season continues in Bremen from Thursday.