A member of our Devo squad, the Belgian competed together with the World Tour team in Spain and caught everyone’s attention with his ride.
Jasper Schoofs delivered a fine performance at the second edition of the Gran Premio Castellon, which took place Saturday afternoon and had the peloton travel over a 171.7km course featuring three classified climbs, the last of which was tackled in the final 15 kilometers.
Winner of the Klimkoers Herbeumont and of the Tour Alsace KOM jersey last season, Jasper was the youngest rider in the six-man breakaway that established a small gap on the first classified climb of the Spanish race and went on to expand it to a maximum of three minutes. Just 19 years of age, the Belgian did an enormous amount of work at the front, where he remained for a stunning 150 kilometers in what was the longest breakaway of the season so far.
It took a concerted effort of the peloton to gradually reduce the advantage of the escapees before reeling them in on Collado de Ayodar, the day’s last hurdle. Even then and there, our Devo rider didn’t give up and attacked one final time shortly after the start of the climb to round out his impressive day at the front of the Gran Premio Castellon.
It took a concerted effort of the peloton to gradually reduce the advantage of the escapees before reeling them in on Collado de Ayodar, the day’s last hurdle. Even then and there, our Devo rider didn’t give up and attacked one final time shortly after the start of the climb to round out his impressive day at the front of the Gran Premio Castellon.
“Our plan was to have someone in the breakaway, and as I felt good and there was a lot of wind that made things hectic in the beginning, I attacked and got away together with five riders. We then tapped out a strong pace and even tried to speed things up a bit towards the end. They caught us all on the last ascent after increasing the tempo in the closing part of the race, but overall, I am content with how my day went”, explained Jasper, who was rewarded for his effort with the KOM prize.
Photo credit: ©Antonio Baixauli / Getty Images
