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.
The dream ended 600 metres from the finish line
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.’
Carlos Silva is a writer for CyclingUpToDate.com, where he contributes race reports, interviews, analysis pieces, and live coverage of the international cycling calendar. Holding a degree in Sports from the Jean Piaget Institute, he combines academic knowledge of performance, training, and competition with hands-on journalism experience in professional cycling.
Throughout his career, Carlos has conducted interviews with leading figures in the sport, including Alberto Contador, Joaquim Rodríguez, Óscar Pereiro, João Almeida, Isaac del Toro, Derek Gee, John Degenkolb and Geraint Thomas. These conversations reflect direct engagement with Grand Tour winners, Classics specialists, and emerging talents.
He has provided on-site coverage at major events ranging from the Vuelta a España to the Tour de France, alongside stage races such as Vuelta a Andalucía, Volta ao Algarve, Volta a Portugal and O Gran Camiño. Covering the mythical climbs of the Giro d'Italia remains one of his professional ambitions.
Carlos is responsible for liveblog coverage of all major WorldTour races and beyond, including the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España. His reporting integrates verified data from ProCyclingStats to ensure statistical accuracy, contextual depth, and analytical precision.
A lifelong cycling enthusiast, he approaches storytelling across written, photographic, and video formats with a focus on credibility, tactical insight, and informed race interpretation.
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