Having raced in all three Monuments for Team Visma | Lease a Bike so far this season, Tim van Dijke made his Ardennes Classics debut at La Flèche Wallonne. After facing torrid rain and cold weather throughout the day, the peloton had been reduced to around thirty riders as they hit the final ascent of the Mur de Huy.
The Dutchman led the group onto the lower slopes of the climb in an attempt to set up Tiesj Benoot for the finale and managed to hang on to finish in 20th place. Van Dijke said in an interview with WielerFlits after the race that “I dropped Tiesj off at the Mur de Huy and was sent to the left to make room for him. That was all I could do for him”.
On getting through the race, Van Dijke went on to say “I didn’t expect that I would get this far today in a race like this, with so many metres of elevation. I try to improve every day in all areas. I am very grateful to have these legs right now”.
He just managed to beat Enzo Leijnse to become best-placed Dutch finisher of the race. On how he approached his ascent of the Mur de Huy, he said “I thought that if I’m going to be there anyway, I better ride up it as quickly as possible. Then I’ll finish it faster”.
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