"I immediately told Arnaud that he could win the stage. I am very happy with the final victory" - Tim Wellens wins Renewi Tour

The match between Tim Wellens and the Benelux Tour (currently called Renewi Tour) must have been made in the heaven. The 33-year-old won the WorldTour stage race for a fourth time last weekend and it was once again a combination of massive efforts in both; the time trial and during the queen stage.

The UAE Team Emirates rider raced with great dedication, the last 30 kilometers were 'all in', without calculating, without saving. It cost him the day's victory, but he didn't mind. "At first the collaboration with Arnaud was a bit difficult, but when it became clear that Alec wasn't going to come back, it went perfectly. I immediately told Arnaud that he could win the stage. I am very happy with the final victory: I knew that it would be very difficult to beat Arnaud for the day's victory, then I prefer to work together," he told HLN.

Next weekend Wellens will ride the BEMER Cyclassic in Hamburg, after which he will go to Canada with clear instructions from his team as he'll sit on a plane with a certain Slovenian. "Together with Tadej, so I know what my role will be."

He also knows the same role awaits him at the World Championship, but there he'll support Remco Evenepoel. "In principle I will be there," Wellens said. "That is what national coach Sven Vanthourenhout said. But not for my own ambition. I don’t mind that, I know my place, I will happily work for the leader."