"The biggest mistake we make is that we let it come to a standstill in front of the Banenberg" - Tiesj Benoot looks back at Gent Wevelgem

Tiesj Benoot crashed hard on Friday in the E3 Saxo Classic, but was at the start of Gent Wevelgem two days later. And things certainly haven't gone smoothly for the Visma | Lease a Bike rider.

"It went okay. It was better than expected. My ribs hurt a lot along the way, but considering the circumstances it was pretty okay. It wasn't even certain whether I could start, but in the end I was in the large chasing group in the final."

"I can not complain. I have already ridden better editions of Gent Wevelgem, but it went better than expected," the 30-year-old rider continues. "It is okay for the coming races, but it is a missed opportunity and that is a shame."

Read also

"My time may come when the forces are a bit more equal" - Egan Bernal completes biggest step of recovery with podium finish at Volta a Catalunya

Visma | Lease a Bike is currently in the thick of things, with several falls and an ill Christophe Laporte. "It is not easy to accommodate all of this," says Benoot. "We are indeed not spared from bad luck, but that can quickly change."

Benoot also looked back on the race in Gent Wevelgem. "The biggest mistake we make is that we let it come to a standstill in front of the Banenberg. We arrive there within twenty seconds of Mathieu and Mads. Then they regain time and after the last time at Kemmelberg it is very difficult to close it, as the wind was also in their favour."

Read also

PREVIEW | Dwars door Vlaanderen 2024 - In the absence of van der Poel, Wout van Aert and Mads Pedersen fight for victory in final classic before Flanders

OFFICIAL: Team Visma | Lease a Bike lose leader for Tour of Flanders - Christophe Laporte forced to miss monument due to illness