Per Strand Hagenes set the cobbles alight on Wout van Aert's return - "it was worth trying"

Today Team Visma | Lease a Bike was present at Le Samyn 2026 with a very young line-up, with Per Strand Hagenes, Wout van Aert, Pietro Mattio, Loe van Belle and development team riders Matisse Van Kerckhove and Aldo Tailleu at the start line.

The race marked Wout van Aert's return to competition after recovering from injury, but it was 22-year-old Norwegian Per Strand Hagenes who stole the show, responding to a move that would split the peloton in two about 60 kilometres from the finish.

Initially, a group of 13 cyclists who attacked the peloton gained a 20-second gap and managed to bridge the gap to the front of the race. Team Visma had two men at the front, Hagenes and Pietro Mattio.

The peloton was closing in on the breakaway, which was losing some of its members. Until, on the penultimate passage through the last cobbled section of the day, Per Strand Hagenes attacked on the cobbles of Rue de Belle Vue.

‘With two laps to go, we broke away with a good group. The cooperation wasn't the best, so I thought: I'll try and see what happens,’ said the youngster, speaking to the Team Visma | Lease a Bike website.

Hagenes attacked and no one in the breakaway was able to keep up with the youngster. The escapees were swallowed up by the peloton, which was riding at a brisk pace, but Hagenes remained 20 to 30 seconds ahead. The kilometres passed and the finish line was getting closer and closer.

When the peloton passed the one-kilometre mark, the young Visma rider remained isolated at the front of the race, but his ride would end 600 metres from the finish line. ‘In the end, I felt I was running out of energy, but I didn't want to give up. I gave it my best, but in the end it wasn't enough.’

The Victory smiled on Jordi Meeus of Red Bull - BORA - Hansgrohe, with Laurenz Rex of Soudal Quick-Step and Hugo Hofstetter of NSN Cycling Team completing the podium. For Per Strand Hagenes, it was an adventure to remember later. ‘It was very difficult, but it was worth trying.’