"We were trapped" - Incredible story of how one rider required daring escape to even reach startline at Gent Wevelgem 2025
Cycling
In one of the more bizarre pre-race moments of the season,
Belgian rider Jules Hesters had an unexpected obstacle to overcome before even
arriving at the start line of Gent Wevelgem on Sunday.
The Team Flanders – Baloise rider found himself locked in his
hotel room on the morning of the race and had to be rescued with a ladder to
make it to the race on time.
"We have been awake since 07:00," Hesters told Sporza.
"We were trapped in the hotel room, so we had to use a ladder to get
down."
Fortunately, the situation was resolved quickly and with
humour. Hesters managed to stay in good spirits despite the early morning
drama.
"Instead of three double espressos, we only needed one
to wake up today," he joked.
Despite the unconventional start to his day, Hesters did
make it to the start line in time for the race, which was ultimately won by
Mads Pedersen after a dominant solo effort. For Hesters, however, the day will
likely be remembered less for the racing, and more for the ladder escape that
got him there.
Read also
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as 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. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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