"Jumbo-Visma played it smart" - Matej Mohoric best of the rest at Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne

Matej Mohoric had proven his early-season form, and attacked Omloop Het Nieuwsblad hard. Today at Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne he repeated his performance, but had to settle behind Jumbo-Visma as he could not take a victory.

“Jumbo-Visma showed again today that they are the strongest team. They deserved to win. I myself felt very good on the climbs. Together with Tim Wellens I think I was the strongest, but unfortunately the best man doesn't always win. Jumbo-Visma played it smart," Mohoric said disappointed after the finish.

Mohoric was the first to close the gap on Tim Wellens as he attacked with over 80 kilometers to go, after Jumbo-Visma blew up the race. He was part of a five-rider group that collaborated well towards the finish, and in the final kilometers he looked to be very strong, closing the multiple attacks of Nathan van Hooydonck.

“When I closed the gap on Van Hooydonck, my legs were completely empty. Then I waited for the last 800 meters," he explained. "I might have been able to close the gap on Benoot, but then I would have taken someone with me and I might have ended up next to the podium."

Mohoric's thoughts were the same of Tim Wellens, who didn't close the gap to Tiesj Benoot in the final 500 meters. The Belgian rode to victory, and Van Hooydonck still sprinted to second place, with Mohoric managing to be the only non-Jumbo-Visma rider to finish on the podium.

“Maybe Taco van der Hoorn gambled a little too much. Everyone expected an attack from him, because he did not ride full speed ahead. He should have reacted to Benoot, but everyone looked at me because I'm the fastest," he explains.

Nevetheless the Slovenian continues to show tremendous form and will have plenty opportunities to take his first win of the season in the upcoming days. “Jumbo-Visma are very strong, but it is not impossible to beat them. In the end you also have to be lucky”, he concluded.