“At the age of nine he was involved in a serious traffic accident" - Patrick Lefevere shares incredible backstory of Warre Vangheluwe; Soudal - Quick-Step's newest star

The cycling world was introduced to a new Soudal - Quick-Step star on stage 4 of the 4 Jours du Dunkerque as Warre Vangheluwe took the first professional win of his career.

The 22-year-old Belgian isn't a name widely known, but his backstory is an incredible one, as detailed by Soudal - Quick-Step's team boss, Patrick Lefevere in his column for Het Nieuwsblad. “At the age of nine he was involved in a serious traffic accident. He was in a coma for a week and a half and was not allowed to cycle for three years," begins the tale. "When he started again, he suffered from splitting headaches and today the consequences of his accident still manifest themselves occasionally."

"Warre sometimes has problems with intense concentration. Or the control from the brain to the legs takes a fraction longer than normal. He can also get into trouble downhill. It is a problem that we have tackled and are managing well in the meantime," continues Lefevere, with the affection clear in his words. “As a rider, Warre is really a talent. When he joined the team last year, Gullegem won Koerse almost immediately. You can say Gullegem, but do it with two hundred riders at the start who all want to win. Warre is not a climber, but he can do anything and you can ask him anything. And he can also finish it himself,”

Although just a day before, Soudal - Quick-Step were celebrating a bigger and renowned success at the Giro d'Italia, as Julian Alaphilippe returned to form with a stunning stage win, Warre Vangheluwe's triumph at the 4 Jours du Dunkerque that meant just as much to Lefevere, the Belgian explains himself.

“The 4 Jours du Dunkerque is not the Giro, but believe me when I say that Warre Vangheluwe's victory gives me as much pleasure as Julian Alaphilippe 's victory the day before," he explains. "For us, Dunkerque is almost a home race. The riders will sleep this weekend in Watou, less than forty kilometres from our service centre. Long story short: a courtesy visit turned into a thriller that I followed with my heart racing.”

“Our Warre Vangheluwe was the only one left from a leading group of four, but then made the mistake that greats like Tom Boonen and Julian Alaphilippe have made before him: he cheered too early. There was a photo finish that made it clear that he had just one millimetre left over Sam Bennett, the fastest of the oncoming peloton," Lefevere concludes. "I was close to a nervous breakdown and no, the name of the number two had nothing to do with that (Bennett, like many ex-Soudal - Quick-Step riders has a storied past with Lefevere, ed.).”