The young Belgian – a first-year U23 rider – took his maiden victory on home soil.
Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team’s first win of September came Friday afternoon, when Viktor Soenens emerged victorious from a 22-man group at the third edition of the GP de Honnelles, a 144.1km race held in the Belgian province of Hainaut.
Starting and finishing in the small town located just 70 kilometers from Brussels, the event was a lively one from the start, when a group managed to get away and build a good gap on the chasers. Sensing the danger, the peloton reacted and began chewing into that advantage, eventually reeling in the escapees. Later, after a series of skirmishes, another group rode clear, and Viktor Soenens was among those to book a place in that move, from where he attacked together with one other rider, 20 kilometers from the finish.
The duo worked well together, and managed to just hold off the chasers in Honnelles, where the 18-year-old – best young rider of the Tour de Bretagne and runner-up at the Ronde van Limburg in the first part of the season – proved to be the fastest, easily outsprinting Kay De Bruyckere (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal).
“Getting my first win of the season feels amazing. I would have never dreamed about this at the start of the race, but I felt good today, and as things progressed, I became more and more confident in my chances. In the final kilometer, I was well positioned and gave everything in the sprint, powering to this unforgettable victory”, said an emotional Viktor after delivering Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team’s 14th win of the year.
Photo credit: ©Wout Beel
