"It's a shame that I just missed the podium" - Maxim Van Gils wraps up great spring with 4th place at Liege-Bastogne-Liege

Maxim Van Gils can look back on a successful Ardennes campaign as the Belgian finished third at La Fleche Wallonne on Wednesday and fourth in today's Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

With some sweets in his mouth, the Lotto Dstny rider spoke to Sporza afterwards. "I like sweets, so I deserve it," he laughed. "It's a shame that I just missed the podium. Liege-Bastogne-Liege is one of my favorite races of the year and as a Belgian it is also a very special race, as a Monument. All in all, however, I am very proud: on Wednesday I was third, now fourth. Those are good results."

"There is little involved in such a sprint, it is a bit of a matter of pushing out the last energy," says Van Gils. "It was quite a long sprint, but I had enough space and was able to cross the finish line behind Mathieu. I didn't have the best feeling towards the Redoute, but in the end my legs turned out to be good. It was no surprise that Pogacar attacked there. I had hoped to ride there with a few more guys, but in the end he just turned out to be too strong."