1st pro win at age 31 - Louis Vervaeke over the moon with emotional victory in Oman
Cycling
Louis Vervaeke is a selfless domestique with Soudal - Quick-Step and over the years has supported the team's climbers to success - most recently being a right-hand man for Remco Evenepoel. Today he got his opportunity and he grabbed it with both hands, to win for the first time as a professional rider at age 31 after succeeding in a Tour of Oman breakaway.
“At the front we worked well together and I want to give a shout-out to Mikel Azparren, he was really strong and put in a strong effort as we joined the breakaway," Vervaeke said in a post-race interview. "It’s great to get a 1-2 with the team, especially as we came here to win a stage and we’re delighted to now have it".
The Belgian was part of the day's breakaway, which managed to hold off the peloton. More specifically, Vervaeke did, as he dropped his breakaway companions in the final climbs of the day and rode the final 10 kilometers by himself. The peloton was hot in his tracks, even spotting him finally in the finishing straight, but a goliath effort saw Vervaeke hold on by a few seconds and take his first pro win in the Yitti Hills.
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“It’s such a beautiful day for me, it feels incredible to take my first win as a pro. I came close several times in the past, and to finally pull it off makes me very proud," he admits. "In the final ten kilometers of the stage I was empty, but I kept thinking of my family and found the power to press on and give my best. That’s why I pointed to the tattoo on my right arm when crossing the line, because being a rider means a lot of sacrifice, from both yourself and your family.”
It's an emotional win for the rider who turned pro in 2014, which also rewards him with the race lead into tomorrow's hilly stage. He has his moment in the spotlight and will have more tomorrow, but the main focus remains in his teammates who can fight for the overall win by the end of the week. "From tomorrow, we’ll focus on the general classification with Valentin [Paret-Peintre] and Mauri [Vansevenant]," he concluded.
The #TourofOman red jersey for @LouisVervaeke ✌️ pic.twitter.com/q4ZxRy8Gm2
— Soudal Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team (@soudalquickstep) February 9, 2025
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