ProTeam No top result for Lotto Soudal at Ronde van Vlaanderen

Both Tim Wellens and Victor Campenaerts rode an attentive final of ‘Vlaanderens Mooiste’.
Race 03 April 2022

Lotto Soudal has showed itself during the 106th Ronde van Vlaanderen but couldn’t clinch a top result in Oudenaarde. Both Tim Wellens and Victor Campenaerts rode an attentive final of ‘Vlaanderens Mooiste’, but had to settle for minor placings.

Not long after the official start in Antwerpen a front group of nine riders formed, where Lotto Soudal was represented by the young Belgian Sébastien Grignard. In the peloton, things remained relatively calm until the Berendries, where a sizeable group attacked. Lotto Soudal also had to deal with bad luck at the Ronde. Brent Van Moer, Florian Vermeersch and Cedric Beullens were involved in a crash at around 80 kilometres from the finish. Fortunately, the three were able to continue their way and made it to the finish in Oudenaarde. At first sight, there are no serious injuries.

Tim Wellens realised the danger of this move and bridged to that group, together with two other riders. The 30-year-old Belgian joined the group just before a second ascent of the Oude Kwaremont, where the race-decisive move formed. A front group of five took shape with Van der Poel, Pogacar, Madouas, Wright and Van Baarle. The Lotto Soudal duo Wellens-Campenaerts found itself in a sizeable chasing group. During a final time up the Oude Kwaremont, Van der Poel and Pogacar showed their cards. Nobody could follow the Dutchman and Slovenian, who played poker sprinting for the win in Oudenaarde. It was Van der Poel who won his second Ronde, chasers Van Baarle and Madouas prevented – somewhat surprising – Pogacar from finishing on the podium. Victor Campenaerts was the first Lotto Soudal rider to finish, on 33rd place.

Victor Campenaerts: “I saved my energy until Berg Ten Houte, where I did a first serious effort. The second climb of the Oude Kwaremont was done at a furious pace but I still felt quite good there. Afterwards, it was just a case of following. Together with Tim, I was in a relatively good position but the strongest riders were gone. Then, it became clear that I was running out of energy. Maybe I am still too much of a time trialist to get a good result at the Ronde. As I have said before, I just lack that little endurance to go well in these Monuments.”

Tim Wellens bridged impressively to an interesting move just before the second time up the Oude Kwaremont but realised he didn’t have great climbing legs today.

“I didn’t feel amongst the strongest riders uphill so I needed to anticipate today. That worked out quite well but I met the ‘Man with the Hammer’ during the final Oude Kwaremont and the chance to still take a good result was gone”, says Tim Wellens.  

Images: Maxime Van der Wielen.

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