Deceuninck – Quick-Step finish at the top of the UCI World Team Classification for the second year in a row.
Enric Mas sealed the first GC victory of his career in Guilin, where the third edition of the Tour of Guangxi came to a conclusion Tuesday morning. The 24-year-old Spaniard from Artà rolled over the line surrounded by his Deceuninck – Quick-Step teammates, who sheltered him again throughout the day. Their splendid effort helped Enric maintain the five-second advantage he carried in the rankings following his solo win at the Nongla Scenic Area, the climb which gave the standings a meaningful shake-up two days ago, and thus become just the second Spaniard to triumph in a World Tour event this season.
Beaming with happiness after he claimed both the red and white jerseys at the last World Tour event of 2019, Enric explained after crossing the finish line what this success meant for him: “Winning the Tour of Guangxi, my last race with the Wolfpack, is something special that I will always remember. I’m delighted to take what is the maiden GC victory of my career and say goodbye to this fantastic team – who believed in me and gave me the chance to turn pro three years ago – in such a manner.”
“I’ve learned a lot over these past seasons, made significant progress and am extremely grateful for the time spent here, as it’s been a memorable run stacked with beautiful moments. This win wouldn’t have been possible without my extraordinary teammates, who gave their all and protected me this week. They are an incredible group, whom I am happy to call friends”, an emotional Mas concluded after nabbing the 745th UCI victory in the history of the team.
For the eighth consecutive year, Deceuninck – Quick-Step concluded the season as the most successful team in the world, with an astounding 68 victories (including two Monuments and 8 Grand Tour stages) netted by 16 different riders in 20 countries across five continents, a testimony of our squad’s fantastic depth and incredible commitment. During this stellar campaign, the Wolfpack were again on a roll as early as January and came out on top in 11 World Tour events for a total of 35 wins in the premier men’s elite competition, a splendid run that in the end resulted in a second consecutive triumph in the UCI World Team Classification.
Deceuninck – Quick-Step CEO Patrick Lefevere was nothing short of effusive after Enric Mas’ victory, which brought down the curtain over another vintage season of the team: “It’s been an unforgettable year, from which we can draw a lot of satisfaction, a confirmation of the hard work and commitment we all put in every single day. Concerning Enric, I want to say how glad we are that he showed professionalism until his last day with the team. We are also happy that he has been part of our squad, where we brought him after following him and his progress from a young age. His potential was on display in many races, including last year’s Vuelta a España, and we are sure he will achieve more big things in the future, so we wish him good luck.”
Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele/ Getty Images
