The team went on the attack in one of the hardest one-day races of the month.
Six gravel road sectors, spread over the 154 kilometers of the fifth Clasica Jaen, and countless hills were the main ingredients of the one-day race, where our team made its final appearance of the month on Spanish soil.
Soudal Quick-Step came to the start with a young line-up, comprising several of our Devo riders, and they ended up putting in a brave display Monday afternoon. One by one, Jasper Schoofs, Viktor Soenens – who came here after a series of impressive outings at Volta Comunitat Valenciana – and Erazem Valjavec attacked, trying to snap the elastic and form a breakaway.
Around 50 kilometers into the race, all three of them were part of a dangerous move that forced the peloton to react. Despite working well together, those in the lead were brought to heel by a bunch who shortly after exploded. The dirt roads made several selections, to the point only a small group was left at the front just as the rain made an appearance, only adding to the complexity of this race. From that reduced peloton, Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates) attacked and soloed to victory in Ubeda, where Casper Pedersen rolled over the line as Soudal Quick-Step’s top finisher.
Photo credit: ©Dario Belingheri / Getty Images
