"I would have preferred to do a little better" - Tiesj Benoot on Amstel Gold Race podium for the second time

For the second time in three years, Tiesj Benoot has finished on the Amstel Gold Race podium. Despite that, there is a tinge of disappointment for the Team Visma | Lease a Bike rider.

“I was of course third in this race once and I would have preferred to do a little better,” the 30-year-old Belgian admits honestly in his post-race interview with Sporza. “But it was difficult to surprise my fellow escapees in the final, as the pursuers were still very close. With four riders it is always going to be difficult to surprise."

In the finale, Benoot was well in the mix with eventual winner Tom Pidcock, Marc Hirschi and Mauri Vansevenant. “I think I still did a reasonably good sprint. I stayed next to Pidcock for quite a while, but in the end, I was a bit too short," Benoot assesses. "In the final kilometre, I saw that Tom was looking at Marc and I tried to attack. However, Mauri rode behind me and then it was difficult to get away. That is of course his right to race like that. I probably would have done the same.”

Nevertheless, 3rd at the Amstel Gold Race is still a positive result for Benoot. “I already had a feeling during training last week. My injuries are recovering better and better," he concludes optimistically. "There is clearly still something left in the tank for this spring and I showed that today.”