After a few near-misses, Edward Theuns finally took the first win for his new Trek-Segafredo team when he emerged as the fastest in the bunch sprint on stage 1 of the Baloise Belgium Tour. Having been given the perfect lead-out by Jasper Stuyven and Boy van Poppel, he jumped onto the Lotto Soudal train before narrowly holding off Daniel McLay (Fortuneo-Vital Concept) and Kenny Dehaes (Wanty) in a photo finish. Wout Van Aert (Crelan) avoided a late crash and so retained the lead.

 

We have gathered several reactions.

 

Edward Theuns: Yes, I am one of the best Belgian sprinters

Edward Theuns capitalized on a great lead-out and sprinted to his first victory of the season in stage one at the Baloise Belgium Tour, Thursday.

 

The 174.5-kilometer stage played out towards a bunch finish with an easily-controlled two men forming the day's breakaway and everything was together again with 17 kilometers remaining.

 

A few antagonists tried their luck at spoiling a sprint ending, but the high-pace in the chaotic final kilometers kept everything tight. With perfectly-timed precision, Trek-Segafredo came to the front in leading out Theuns, and he delivered on the uphill finish with a powerful sprint to win by half a bike length.  

 

"The team launched me perfectly in the last two kilometers," explained Theuns. "They did amazing work, Boy (Van Poppel) in particular did such a long pull in the end. I kept pushing him and he rode until he almost fell off his bike. When I was alone, I had to wait a little bit before launching my sprint, but I picked the right moment and then when the bump came, I knew I had it.

 

"For me, it is a very important victory. I was waiting for my first victory this season and I had very high ambitions coming to the Tour of Belgium. I was happy with the prologue yesterday, I did a good time and good values on my SRM, and I was confident that the form is good."

 

"Very good leadout by the team," echoed director Dirk Demol. "First, it was Greggy(Rast), Fumy (Beppu) and Stijn (Devolder) protecting Edward and then Jasper (Stuyven) and Boy at the end. Boy did an amazing long pull, great job from him, and Edward could deliver."

 

With the two-man breakaway caught, the fight for positioning kicked into overdrive as the sprinters' teams scented an imminent bunch finish. Riders jumped over medians, around trees and hedges as they hopped on and off the adjacent bike path – anything to move forward.

 

"It was a tricky finale because there's not top, top sprinters here like Kittel and Greipel, but there are 10-12 candidates, fast guys, all who believe in their own chance and take risks," explained Demol. "It makes it hectic and there was a crash at the end. You have to be good, be strong, to stay up there and that is what Boy did and then Jasper did a really good pull after that. It was great teamwork, and it's nice to have the whole team a part of this win."

 

There was no hiding Theuns' elation after the finish, a rider who has worked tirelessly for the team's top sprinters this season and when given his chances has knocked on victory's door, sprinting to three podium places, but never the top step. 

 

"In the spring I gained a lot of confidence in my sprinting, I felt like I made progress and felt good power," continued Theuns. "I rested for a week after the Classics and started building again with the Tour of Belgium being a big goal. I came here with ambitions to win a stage. My sprint felt good in training, and today all the hard training paid off."

 

"I knew that Edward was training really well," added Director Dirk Demol. "He went to Girona for some specific training and he was really focused on this race. I had promised him in Croatia that he would be the leader here. He has been pulling for the team, for Giacomo (Nizzolo) and Niccolo (Bonifazio), and doing all this work and he is fast as well, so it was time to give him something back. So I told him I have only one leader in Belgium, doesn't matter who comes, but you are my leader."

 

Theuns sealed his goal for the tour, his first win this year, shaking the monkey off his back and proving that his leadership onus is well-deserved.

 

"The last lap I could actually pretty easily stay up front. Boy Van Poppel came very early to the front. I even thought it was a bit too early. I kept pushing him until he was 450 meters from the finish. Then I could anticipate. We have a good team, but a full lead-out is difficult.

 

"I have fortunately not seen too much from the crash. I was just in front because Jasper went full gas. It's nice to get my first win for the team that have made me the absolute leader. I'm glad I can show I'm worth it.

 

"But I do not think about the final victory. I take it day by day. Especially Saturday will tell if I can go for the victory.”

 

Saturday’s stage is like a mini Liege-Bastogne-Liege where Theuns was good at the U23 level.

 

“But in the pros it is still different. I noticed that during my participation in my first year as a professional.

 

"I'm pleased that I've digested the transition. The spring was also good, with an excellent Paris-Nice."

 

"Whether I'm with the best Belgian sprinters? Yes, I am. The Baloise Belgium Tour has a beautiful stat list with motivated compatriots. The Belgian Championships road race is the next target. It's a slightly uphill finish that should suit me. In preparation I will ride the Dauphiné Libéré and Halle-Ingooigem . In between I go back to Girona , where I have been training hard in recent weeks to prepare for this period.

 

"I was just looking for that victory, I'm glad I've got it now and in a beautiful finish at my national tour. I have gained confidence during the spring for bunch sprints. After the spring I rested well and built up to this race because it was my ambition to win a stage. The team did a fantastic job. I could not go too early, but could eventually start at the right time.”

 

In-form Daniel McLay narrowly misses out on victory in Belgium

Dan McLay did not miss much to raise his arms at the finish. Once again the team surrounded and protected him all day to put him in the best conditions for the sprint. In the end, he had to settle for second.

 

”Super job by the team today to put me in the front. Had to wait just a little too long to start and finished 2nd on the day,” he tweeted.

 

Frustrated Kenny Dehaes: The crash cost me the victory

The first stage of the Baloise Belgium Tour took place this Thursday between Buggenhout and Knokke-Heist over 177,4 kilometres. It was the first battle for the sprinters. Kenny Dehaes took the third place of the stage won by Edward Theuns (Trek-Segafredo). 
 

"On the one hand it is a good result for the team, on the other hand I'm disappointed because I think I could have won this stage", Kenny Dehaes thinks. 

The team could prepare the sprint for Kenny Dehaes. At 1.5 kilometre from the finish, a massive crash destroyed the preparation of the sprint.

 

"I almost crashed but fortunately I stayed on the bike. I lost a few positions because of the crash", Kenny Dehaes regrets. Nobody was involved in the crash.

In the last kilometre Kenny Dehaes was too far and had to make a great effort before launching his sprint. Finally he takes the third place of the stage.

 

"I can't say I'm happy with this result. I really had the legs to win. I gave everything in the last kilometre. I started my sprint very early. I'm third. It isn't a bad result", Kenny Dehaes said.

Sports director Hilaire Van der Schueren shares the same opinion as Kenny Dehaes.

 

"I think Kenny Dehaes would have won the stage without any problem but he lost a lot of positions because of the crash. In the sprint Kenny Dehaes was coming from the right side. He had to slow down because of a rider of Katusha. It was very close. All the riders worked hard for him today. He is one of the fastest riders in Belgium at the moment. It is logical to play his card. Tomorrow, it would be maybe a stage for the riders of the general classification", Hilaire Van der Schueren concluded.

 

Planckaert and De Winter make it a great day for Wallonie in Belgium

Ludwig De Winter was prominent throughout the first stage. He played the game of the intermediate sprints and got the green jersey. His Wallonie teammate Baptiste Planckaert was fourth in the sprint.

 

Ludwig De Winter said: 

 

"I was in the break of the first stage in 2015 and therefore I wanted to be in front on Thursday and, especially, to go for the green jersey. My escape was the first of the season for me. The orders were for Julien Stassen and for me to join the day's breakaway. There were three sprints counting for the green jersey. The first sprint was after 6km. I attacked to try to take it but it eluded me. However, I won the other two later. After the first sprint, there was a small pause in the pack and I took advantage with Brian Van Goethem. We worked well together during this long day in the lead. After this successful first day, I think the Tour of Belgium will be good. "

 

Baptiste Planckaert said: 

 

"The stage was not hard enough because there was not really a race with all these wide roads. It was very fast in the finale. There was a big fight in the peloton. I was perhaps a bit too far back for the sprint. I started about 70 meters from the finish and I was second until the final 20m and the I was passed by McLay and Dehaes. I'm a little disappointed with this 4th place, but I think the day was successful for our team with the jersey for Ludwig De Winter. Friday's stage is on my training routes with some climbs that I know well. The race will be different and I think with the team we have, we can achieve a very nice result in Herzele.”

 

Wout Van Aert: Tomorrow I may try to win another stage

Wout van Aert defended the jersey andTim Merlier sprinted to 13th place for Crelan

 

"In a very hectic final, I did not get to the front in time," said Merlier afterwards. "I had previously already lost some strength in the Golden kilometer in order to steal some seconds from riders that were a potential threat to Wout."

 

Merlier was 13th. Van Aert was 32th.

 

"More importantly, I was not involved in the massive crash 1.5km from the finish," said Wout van Aert. "Fortunately I was sitting a bit further back so I could pass the falling riders perfectly. For the rest it was a very hectic finale, where the danger lurked around every corner. I had to get used to riding in the peloton. I did not always feel safe.

 

"I am extremely proud of what the boys have done today. They proved that our team is underestimated. Everyone did what was expected of him.”

 

Also team manager Kevin Hulsmans responded enthusiastically. 

 

"Top! They all get a big compliment. At one moment I was a little worried when the Direct Energie riders suddenly increased the pace in pursuit of the two leaders. We really did not think they would be caught before the Golden kilometer. But they did it well by again taking the lead and keeping the lead duo under control. We have already passed the first test with flying colors.”

 

"In the opening phase, we were able to stay quiet, but the finale was still stressful,” Van Aert added. “We had to stay alert in the Golden kilometer. Luckily we managed to control guys like Yves Lampaert. In the closing stages I was just behind that crash. I could just avoid them and was glad that I reached the finish without problems.

 

"The last ten kilometers were again very hectic. It went from left to right which is typical in these stage races. I had to adapt because it's the first race of this level for some time.

 

"I could not allow myself not to be in front. Certainly in the fight for the Golden Kilometre, I had to be on my toes. Luckily there were two riders ahead who posed no threat to the GC and they took the most bonus seconds away. It was not easy for myteammates. They held the race under control all day. I should probably thank them because we came through the day unscathed. I still remember from last year that tomorrow’s stage is  very treacherous. You cannot win the race Belgium Tour in Herzele but you can lose it. The whole day I will be attentive. On Saturday in the Ardennes it will be every man for himself but tomorrow I can count on a strong team to defend my leadership. “

 

"I’ve not train not in the Flemish Ardennes so often, but I know tomorrow’s stage from last year. Then I had bad luck on the Paddestraat, hopefully I can avoid that tomorrow. And if we are 50 riders sprinting for the win, I will maybe try to sprint for the win. "

 

Bad day for Lotto Soudal in Belgium

The Lotto Soudal riders couldn’t get themselves organized. Debusschere was fifteenth, Boeckmans nineteenth. Today Tiesj Benoot picked up one bonus second in the Golden KM and is now 25 seconds down on GC leader Wout Van Aert.

 

Yves Lampaert hits the deck but moves up in Belgium Tour GC

In the general classification, Wout Van Aert (Crelan-Vastgoedservice) kept the led, but two of Etixx – Quick-Step's riders are right behind him, Tony Martin, who was runner-up in the Beveren prologue, and Yves Lampaert. The Belgian began the day in 5th place, but took back a second at an intermediate sprint and jumped on the podium, just four seconds adrift. Unfortunately, Lampaert wasn't all smiles at the finish, because he too was among the ones involved in the crash.

 

"It was an easy day – with a small breakaway which the peloton controlled – that is until the final kilometers, when many riders went to the ground in that hectic sprint. I got hit by another rider's bike and got a cut to my fingers, but I had a few stitches and hopefully I won't have any problems tomorrow, when I want to be again at the front for the team", said Yves Lampaert ahead of stage 2.

Zico Waeytens hits the deck in the Belgium Tour

 

Team Giant-Alpecin placed Zico Waeytens in the first placings with good teamwork from the team. However, Waeytens suffered a bad crash as the stage reached a dramatic conclusion. The Belgium remained on the ground as the peloton passed all around him, but after receiving medical attention he was able to pick himself up and complete the stage.

 

For the team, every rider managed to cross the finish with Lars van der Haar first for the team in 35th place.

 

Zico Waeytens said: “I was aiming for a good result and I felt in good shape during the stage. The team did a great job in protecting me and I was able to conserve as much energy as possible. In the finale, they brought me to the front but unfortunately I was involved in a crash and then my race was over.”

 

Coach Arthur van Dongen added: “Today was a relatively straightforward sprint stage with good weather conditions. Not much happened during the race with a two-rider breakaway who spent the majority of the day at the front. In the finale, we had Zico in a good position but we had a bit of bad luck with the crash.”

 

Sam Bennett crashes in hectic Belgium Tour sprint

BORA – ARGON 18 waited long before they organised their train, but the timing seemed to be almost perfect when Sam Bennett was in about 8th position for the final two kilometres. 1300m from the finish a big crash affected the race and Bennett hit the ground. He was able to finish the stage but all chances for the team were lost as his lead-out riders wer involved in this crash too. At the moment Bennett looks ok for tomorrow. Jan Bárta remains in 13th spot in the GC.

 

“I think Sam is ok, even though he hit the ground hard. It’s a pity he was involved in the crash, because today everything looked really good until this situation. The team had a perfect timing and brought him up to the top ten in the peloton with 2k to go. But then he hit the ground and all chances have been lost. I think tomorrow will be a sprint finale again, but from a smaller group than today. Therefore, I think it will also be a little less frantic,” said Enrico Poitschke, sports director.

 

Quiet day for Katusha at the Baloise Belgium Tour

All Team KATUSHA riders finished in the peloton. In the last kilometer a crash disturbed the preparation of the sprint.

 

”Fortunately none of our riders were involved in the crash. Nils Politt had to brake and stop, but he managed not to crash. That’s good news. As we are here without sprinters it was important for us to stay safe and not to lose any time in the final in the cross winds,” said Team DirectorJosé Azevedo.