Mads Pedersen delivered a masterclass in solo racing to
claim victory at
Gent Wevelgem on Sunday, while Team Visma | Lease a Bike were
left to rue a challenging and ultimately frustrating day on Flemish roads. And, yet another crash for one of their riders:
Olav Kooij.
The race, shaped by favourable winds, saw early splits in
the peloton that created echelons and dictated much of the day’s outcome. Visma
managed to place several riders in strong positions as the groups formed.
Olav
Kooij and Tiesj Benoot made it into the first echelon, while Matteo Jorgenson,
Dan McLay, and Tosh Van der Sande followed closely behind in a second chasing
group.
Victor Campenaerts, initially caught out, was able to regain contact
when the two groups came together, positioning the team well for the
Kemmelberg.
Visma had planned to animate the race ahead of the climbs,
and according to Campenaerts, things were unfolding as expected until disaster
struck.
“The plan was to anticipate before the climbs of the
Kemmelberg,” Campenaerts
said after the race in the team’s press release. “That
worked out, but shortly after, I heard the news that Olav had crashed. That hit
hard, but we had to refocus. In the end, we have to admit that there was no
stopping Pedersen today. I tried to follow him, but I just couldn’t match his
pace.”
Kooij’s crash occurred at a pivotal moment in the race. As
Pedersen launched the decisive attack on the Plugstreets, Kooij had responded
and was on the Dane’s wheel. But shortly after, he misjudged a corner and hit
the deck, ruling Visma’s fastest finisher out of contention just as the
race-winning move was forming.
Sports director Arthur van Dongen reflected on the race’s
turning point with a mix of regret and realism.
“We had several riders in the front echelons, and Victor was
well positioned in the race, so everything was going according to plan,” van
Dongen explained. “On the Plugstreet, Olav followed Pedersen’s attack, but
shortly after, he misjudged a corner. The race could have played out
differently – with Victor up front and Olav on Pedersen’s wheel, we would have
had a perfect situation. But that’s cycling, unfortunately.”
With Wout van Aert absent from the start list as he
continues to build form for Flanders and Roubaix, and with Kooij out of
contention after the crash, Visma were left without a real card to play in the
finale. Campenaerts did his best to respond to Pedersen’s move, but like
everyone else, was left in the Dane’s wake as the Lidl-Trek rider powered clear
to win in style.