STAM AND SCHEP SECURE STUNNING SIX-DAY HOME WIN

Giant-sponsored riders Danny Stam and Peter Schep have blasted off to what promises to be a great new season by clinching a powerful late home victory in the Six Days of Amsterdam.
Holland’s leading track duo fought back from a slow start in Amsterdam to overtake their rivals on the last night in a spectacular showdown.
Their victory was even more remarkable given Schep has only recently taken over as Stam’s partner following his usual track team-mate Robert Slippens serious pre-season crash.
“We surprised a lot of people, but staging a comeback like that was immensely satisfying.” Stam told Giant’s website.
“The first few nights we weren’t doing brilliantly, bubbling under but not quite there.”
“Then it all came good at the last possible moment.”
Watched by Slippens from the stands, Stam revealed that the duo’s tactics on that crucial last night, were “simply to go out and see what happened, just to see if we can get one lap ahead of the rest of the field.”
“Then we got lucky because some Spanish riders tried a move and we went with them when nobody expected it.”
Stam is convinced that part of the reason for the duo’s success was that as the two have not been riding for so long together, their rivals dangerously underestimated them.
“Nobody thought we could get such a prestigious victory so early in the season, because they know me and Robert, but me paired up with Peter Schep is a whole different story.”
“Our strategy, though, paid off really well - and of course riding in front of a home crowd, you’re that much more motivated. Beating such a strong line-up of rivals, too, is very good for morale.”
Stam’s next challenge will be the Six Days of Dortmund from October 26th to 31st.
“I’m not sure if we can pull off a series of Six-Day wins like last year” - which finally totalled four - “because our tactics at Amsterdam were pretty clear to the opposition.” Stam concluded.
“Our strongest card is we’ve got a lot of endurance, if we can wear the sprinters out with high speed laps, then gradually things come round our way. People know that now.”
“Basically we’re going to have to take things race by race, but in any case I’m very pleased with what happened in Amsterdam. After taking one podium placing in the `[season-opener Six Days] of Maastricht, this is a great start to the winter.”