Despite equalling his best-ever UCI
World Cup result with his second-placed finish at Val di Sole on Sunday afternoon,
Niels Vandeputte leaves the cross with more than a tinge of disappointment.
“It was very tough,” said the
Alpecin-Deceuninck rider in his post-race interview. “It was physically tougher here than last year and technically too. The circumstances were very different, but I think it was a great race. In the first lap I was able to keep up with Nieuwenhuis's pace, but in the second lap I made too many mistakes. I didn't ride at the level I needed to compete for the win.”
