The 19-year-old confirmed his solid form by taking his maiden success of the season.
Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team celebrated its third victory of the year Saturday afternoon, when Lars Vanden Heede prevailed in a two-man sprint after a full gas race which had a bit of everything: crosswinds, cobblestones, and crashes, which made for a very hectic start.
The riders of our team were in all the right moves, joining a dangerous 30-man group that went clear after the opening 35 kilometers of the 172.3km Wim Hendriks Trofee. The wind and the rough terrain made an important selection by the time they entered on the first of the five local laps, where the Soudal Quick-Step Devo boys continued to have the numbers in the front group.
Nine men opened a gap there, including Jelle Harteel and Lars Vanden Heede. The latter tried his luck 40 kilometers from the finish, but the group reeled him in ten kilometers later. Confident in the strong shape he had, Lars attacked again on a cobblestone sector and got clear, staying alone up the road until 15 kilometers to go, when he was joined by Huub Artz (Wanty-Reuz-Technord). On the finishing stretch, he easily outsprinted the Dutchman and took his first victory of the year.
“I am super happy with this win, especially as it came just a couple of days after my 19th birthday. It was a hard day of racing, but the entire team did a great job from the beginning, being present in all the groups, and this played a big role in the final outcome. I want to thank the boys for their support, I couldn’t have done it without them. It feels great to break the ice so early in the season”, an elated Lars said after the race.
Photo credit: ©Wout Beel
Lars Vanden Heede