"My legs weren't great. My body needs rest" - Ilan Van Wilder looks forward to end his season in Japan
Cycling
Before the start of Il Lombardia, much was expected of Remco Evenepoel, but the Belgian champion of Soudal Quick-Step crashed early in the race and subsequently fell short in the final to compete for victory.
Yet Evenepoel showed he had resilience, as he managed to fight his way to ninth place in the background. "We were unlucky that Remco fell so early in the race. He was quite battered, so congratulations that he did so well," was the conclusion of his teammate Ilan Van Wilder, in conversation with VTM.
Evenepoel could not compete for the victory, but Soudal Quick-Step finished nicely on the podium of Il Lombardia with Andrea Bagioli (2nd). According to Van Wilder, there was nothing more to it. "Bagioli's second place was the highest possible, because Tadej Pogacar was clearly the best."
Van Wilder, who was the best in Tre Valli Varesine last Tuesday, was not really happy with his own performance. "I wasn't very good. My legs weren't great. My body needs rest, it's enough for me. But it has already been a great season, this week I was able to win another race."
"So I certainly can't complain, but it's time to put my feet up." But first there is one last race: the Japan Cup. "That's more for fun. And then it really is time for a holiday."
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Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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Good night from Lombardia 😃 Photo: @GettySport
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