The Belgian youngster put in an amazing effort at the first Ardennes Classic of the season, contributing to Julian Alaphilippe’s top 10 finish.
Mauri Vansevenant delivered an unforgettable ride at his debut Amstel Gold Race, which took place Sunday afternoon on a circuit-based circuit featuring the Geulhemmerberg, the Bemelerberg and the Cauberg. Netherlands’ sole World Tour one-day race produced an intense and adrenaline-filled final hour or racing, with Mauri as one of the main protagonists.
After managing to bridge across to the peloton following a mechanical inside 50 kilometers to go, the 21-year-old from Oostende was involved in a crash, just as he was making his way towards the front. Undeterred by this, he quickly remounted and started a furious chase, getting within touching distance of the group on the Cauberg, only to lose contact again, this time after being forced to change his bike.
Showing the heart of a lion, Mauri started a frantic chase that saw him make significant inroads into a gap that looked insurmountable and join the group of Julian Alaphilippe on the last lap, when they were trailing the leading trio by 20 seconds. The tenacious Vansevenant – who took his racing to another level this season, as evidenced by his results in a series of one-day and stage races – buried himself for the World Champion, erasing a good chunk off the deficit before finally peeling off the front just a few kilometers from the line.
His outstanding effort helped Alaphilippe get a fifth consecutive top 10 at Amstel Gold Race, with the rainbow jersey wearer finishing sixth, just two seconds behind the small group from which Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) took the win.
“I had bad luck with that mechanical, something from which it’s always difficult to come back, but I managed to return to the bunch only to hit the deck. I remounted and chased hard only to face another problem at the start of the Cauberg, which is never pleasant, as there it’s always nervous. I lost time and was quite far, but that didn’t discourage me, as I felt that the legs were good and I could do something on this parcours, which normally doesn’t suit me.”
The most important thing was that I could help Julian today.
“I had to produce a big effort to make it back into the group, but I was motivated by joining him and giving it my best in the chase. As soon as I bridged across, I didn’t hesitate for one second and took the front, trying to close the gap to the leaders, but in the end I just ran out of energy. It was my first presence here and I arrived at the start without any expectations, but I come out of it with a lot of confidence for the next races”, said Mauri at the finish.
Photo credit: ©Wout Beel
