Written by T DobbinLast night in Assen was a very successful night for the men's team of DSB Bank. Shane Dobbin & all the skaters from DSB Bank skated a great team effort and all contributed to the victory of Shane Dobbin in the Essent Cup number 10 in Assen.
The race started with many breakaway attempts and it was a hard race with an average lap time of 31.3 sec laps. Bob de Vries (BAM) & Cedric Michaud (Nefit) were sprinting for the first set of sprint points in the race for the Gold Jersey. At approximately 55 laps to go the half way point of the race Shane Dobbin (DSB Bank) attacked with Durk Fabriek (Schuurman), Ralf Zwister (Adformatie) and a skater from BCT. These four skaters ended up half a lap in front of the peleton when Ralp Zwister (Adformatie) crashed and ended up going back to the peleton and the skater from BCT dropped off the breakaway leaving only two in the lead group (Shane Dobbin DSB Bank and Durk Fabriek Schuurman).
These two skaters kept trying to keep the pace hoping the peleton would stop the chase. After a few more laps of working together the team of Schuurman Schoenen dropped back to the breakaway escapees to help their team mate Durk Fabriek and of course included in the break Shane Dobbin (DSB Bank) to try to take a lap over the peleton. With approximately 30 laps remaining and after a long hard chase the two escapees lapped the peleton and waited for the sprint for the final 20 laps to make their next move. 
After the final sprint / elimination for the last 20 laps there was just two skaters from DSB Bank in the final Shane Dobbin who was one lap in front and Ingmar Berga. Ingmar Berga did a great job in making sure no one escapeed off the front to catch Shane Dobbin & Durk Fabriek. Arjan Stroetinga (BAM) & Roy Boeve (Safan) tried very hard and made many attempts to escape off the front. In the end the peleton received the bell for the last lap with five laps to go and it was Cedric Michaud (Nefit), Bob de Vries (Bam) & Ingmar Berga (DSB Bank) who were sprinting for third place. Crossing the line in third place was Cedric Michaud (Nefit), in fourth was Bob de Vries (BAM) and fifth Ingmar Berga (DSB Bank). 
When the sprint for third place took place Shane Dobbin (DSB Bank) took advantage of this opportunity and made his move to breakaway from his rival Durk Fabriek (Schuurman) Shane Dobbin broke away in the last five laps to maintain a strong gap and cross the line for his first victory for DSB Bank and in the Essent Cup. Second place went to Durk Fabriek from Schuurman. It was a very successful team effort from the DSB Bank team including Jens Zwister, Arjan Smit, Ingmar Berga & Shane Dobbin. 
Mens Marathon Results1st Shane Dobbin (DSB Bank)
2nd Durk Fabriek (Schuurman)
3rd Cedric Michaud (Nefit)
4th Bob de Vries (Bam)
5th Ingmar Berga (Dsb Bank)
6th Sandor Stuut (Vlasman)
7th Douwe de Vries (Adformatie)
8th Kurt Wubben (TNT Express)
9th Roy Boeve (Safan)
10th Jan van Oosterom (Goesting.nl)
The ladies race was first in Assen and Chris Witty (Landjuweel) broke away in the final 20 laps solo and lapped the peleton to cross the line for another victory for her in this ice season in Assen.
Ladies Marathon Results1st Chris Witty (Landjuweel)
2nd Liesbeth Hijlkema (Cakyline)
3rd Jolanda Langeland (Steenbergen)
4th Sandra t'Hart (Landjuweel)
5th Maria Sterk (DSB Bank)
2nd Liesbeth Hijlkema (Cakyline)
3rd Jolanda Langeland (Steenbergen)
4th Sandra t'Hart (Landjuweel)
5th Maria Sterk (DSB Bank)
The final event of the night was the first divison marathon. The young Dj Nation from New Zealand raced in the marathon tonight trying very hard and working hard throughout the race to make attacks and follow them. Dj made the top 20 at the sprint/elimination and in the final 20 laps was very active. Unfortunately he couldn't follow the strongman Willem Hut (BAM) and Willem broken away solo to cross the line for another victory in the first division.
1st Willem Hut (BAM)
2nd Peter Nauta (Schaatsteam)
3rd Frank Posthumus (Schaatsploeg)
For full results go to: http://www.knsb.nl/content/marathon/wedkal_detail.asp?ID=310
For more photos go to: http://www.fotohdeboer.nl/
To watch the race on internet click on the link: http://www.sbs6.nl/web/show/id=258665/langid=43
