Our squad was prominent at the 21st World Tour event of the year.
The month of May began with one of the most important races held on German soil, Eschborn-Frankfurt, which took in five climbs before a flat finish in the center of the city. Coming to the start with a young team, Soudal Quick-Step was keen on leaving its mark on the race, and seconds after the peloton exited the neutral zone, Warre Vangheluwe went on the attack.
The 22-year-old Belgian, who had some solid appearance in the team jersey since turning pro at the beginning of the year, was the strongest man in the breakaway that managed to put almost five minutes into the bunch. Vangheluwe put in a remarkable effort out there, being caught only on the slopes of Feldberg, with around 80 kilometers to go, when he was already alone at the front after dropping his companions on the previous climb.
Numerous attacks came from that moment on until the top of the final ascent, the Mammolshain, but somehow the reduced peloton brought back all these moves and the race came down to a sprint, won by Maxim Van Gils (Lotto-Dstny). Fausto Masnada was the first Soudal Quick-Step rider home, finishing the German World Tour race with the main group.
Photo credit: ©Christian Kaspar-Bartke / Getty Images
