ProTeam In the picture, but no top result for Lotto Soudal at the Ronde
Lotto Soudal didn’t manage to clinch a top result at the 105th Tour of Flanders. As the hill zone started, Lotto Soudal was attentive at the front and Tosh Van der Sande was amongst the riders trying to join an early move. The final really kicked off during the second time up the Oude Kwaremont, where Tim Wellens was present at the front of the heavily reduced bunch. Wellens was also one of the first riders to reach the top of the Koppenberg. The race was decided a little further on the Taaienberg, where Wellens found himself in a chasing group. Unfortunately, Wellens was dropped from that chasing group on the Oude Kwaremont, which prevented the Lotto Soudal rider from fighting for a top result. The Dane Kasper Asgreen defeated Mathieu Van der Poel in a two-man sprint to take victory at the Ronde.
“Of course, it’s a disappointment”, reacts Tim Wellens. “However, I am quite satisfied with my race today, but it is a pity to finish the Ronde without a result. During the final, I was right where I had to be, but I just didn’t have the legs anymore the final time up the Oude Kwaremont, where I was dropped from the chasing group. I realised it would be difficult to follow the attacks of the main favourites, so I needed to anticipate. That worked out pretty well and I found myself in a nice group. I tried to save some energy but unfortunately, I didn’t manage to survive the final ascent of the Oude Kwaremont.”
“The fact that I got a bit sick after Milan-Sanremo may have had a minor impact on my race today, but it definitely isn’t an excuse. Now I’ll take some rest, before building up towards the Amstel Gold Race.”
Once again, Florian Vermeersch had to deal with bad luck. The 22-year-old Lotto Soudal rider was forced to abandon the race after crashing about 80 kilometres from the finish. The young Belgian didn’t incur any major injuries, only several abrasions.
Picture: Photo News.