A perfect day for our riders, who made the most out of the final stage in Bretagne.
Penn Ar Bed - Bro An Hirwazh is one of the most important junior events held in France, and the Soudal Quick-Step U19 boys managed to leave their mark on it, just as they have done on many of this season’s races.
The final stage got underway from Pointe Saint-Mathieu, but its main attraction was the up-and-down circuit around Plouzané, where Vic De Smet and Simon Defrance attacked in the final kilometer and established a gap over the peloton. The duo left everything out there and for a couple of seconds managed to hold off the chasers, crossing the line together. Vic took the stage victory, his third of the season, while Simon concluded the race as our team’s best placed rider on the GC, in fifth.
Thanks to the bonus seconds he claimed at the end of the day, the 16-year-old De Smet won the white jersey - the first Belgian to finish at the top of the best young rider classification at Penn Ar Bed - Bro An Hirwazh.
I’m happy with my success, but also with the way we rode on Sunday, like a real Wolfpack.
“The stage had many short climbs and with many of our guys well-placed in the GC, we were keen on attacking the leader. We did just that with numerous right from the start, but it was only on the last lap that we managed to put some daylight between us and the rest, after Valentin reeled in an attack from another team. On the last hill, Gal accelerated, then Simon took over with me in his wheel, and we immediately opened a small gap. It was a great move from our side, one that showed how well we work as a team”, said Vic, who thanks to the bonus seconds brought by this win took home the best young rider’s jersey.
Photo credit: ©SMAL
