Breschel crowned Danish Champion

Matti Breschel (Team Saxo Bank) won the elite men's 196km Danish National Road Championships in Sønderborg in southern Denmark on Sunday. Breschel and his 12 Saxo Bank teammates were out to defend their team's win by Nicki Sørensen last year.

Breschel was part of a large group that formed early in the race. Also there were his teammates Alex Rasmussen, Frank Høj and André Steensen They managed to stay in the front until 128 kilometres into the race, when the trio of Jens-Erik Madsen (Capinordic), Kasper Schjønnemann (Team Concordia) and Chris Anker Sørensen (Team Saxo Bank) joined them and brought the break's participation up to 32 riders.

Thomas Just (Team Concordia) and René Jørgensen Designa Køkken) escaped off the front of the leaders at 140km, which caused the lead group to splinter. Team Saxo Bank sent several riders to join them and immediately went to the front to drive the pace.

With 26km to go, only ten riders remained in the break - five were Saxo Bank riders. Chris Anker Sørensen, Breschel, Høj and Brian Vandborg (Liquigas) then escaped off the front. With 10km to go, the four men had a 50-second lead, which seemed like it would be enough to hold until the end.

On the final lap, Breschel and Sørensen launched a crucial attack which left Høj alone with Vandborg, who had to chase the Team Saxo Bank duo single-handedly.

On the last hill, Sørensen did what he does best and tried to drop his teammate Breschel, but Breschel hung on for the win and the national title.