Our squad placed two riders in the first ten at the end of a fast and eventful race.
A total of 168.5 kilometers and ten climbs were on the menu of Textielprijs Vichte, one of Belgium’s oldest kermesses. Soudal Quick-Step came at the start with ten riders, including Gil Gelders, Jordi Warlop, or Renato Favero – Devo Team’s Italian who one month ago took a spectacular solo victory in Omloop Mandel-Leie-Schelde.
Soudal Quick-Step was in the thick of the action from the very beginning, attacking in waves and trying to shape the race. Our riders got involved in the many moves that came before a breakaway was finally established, and once this happened, we made sure to be present also there, with Gil Gelders.
Together with the other eight riders in the move, the 22-year-old Belgian opened a solid gap which in the end proved to be enough, despite the chasers’ efforts to bring them back. It all came down to a small sprint, where Gil finished just outside the podium, as Lionel Taminiaux (Lotto) took the victory. Lars Vanden Heede led home the group behind, making it two Soudal Quick-Step riders in the top ten Tuesday afternoon.
Photo credit: ©Luc Claessen / Getty Images
