"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.
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- Having to shoulder too much pressure from the Belgain public too much that he made a tactical mistake. That's what public pressure does to you. Poor Wout! Hopefully, lady luck befalls him soon.
KerisVroom03-04-2025 - If he's very lucky maybe he can podium a Tour one season, I certainly don't believe he can win it, evervappaxbipmv03-04-2025
- Yeah, as if fans would now have acquired a right to an MVPD every generation ;-)Jumpyjohn03-04-2025
- Yeah not this year anyway but worth keeping an eye on him (and some others) in future.Jumpyjohn03-04-2025
- poor kid, saddled with all that “next mvdp” crap. eeesh…OCexile03-04-2025
- I don't think so, maybe in a different GT, not in the Tour. Last year, to be 3rd, he would have to be better than Remco. And he wasn't, on any terrainvappaxbipmv03-04-2025
- Or sprinting, or against wind. I think by now they’ve optimised the tire tech and pressures to largely smooth out rider weight effects. BUT, I’m going to go through past podiums to see what weight distribution trends are to be spotted coz I’m curious now.Mistermaumau03-04-2025
- I also wasn’t too impressed by the final lead out, they’ve got to practice that, Wout had far too long to ride alone but then again it seemed as if the lead-outs had themselves run out of steam too early which is what makes me believe none of them could have won, Powfull looked totally fresh and in the end it was just a case of him being stronger than the others, not much you can do against that, just like you can’t outdo MVDP in the end when he’s in shape.Mistermaumau03-04-2025
- Exactly, a rider (or sprinter in athletics) can’t even tell themselves when it will happen until it does. Obviously if you have an idea that could happen, you should maybe envisage testing your theory with perhaps an small sharp attack well before race-end.Mistermaumau03-04-2025
- Yes but 20 minutes as a domestique isn’t 20 minutes as a leader, and you know as well as anybody that Pog winning is in no way a guarantee. Granted, neither Pog nor Remco nor Jinas nor Primoz or some more winning starts to seem far-fetched but a podium would certainly be targetable if he doesn’t have to worry about Jonas.Mistermaumau03-04-2025