Soudal Quick-Step's Giro d’Italia campaign delivered success on multiple fronts, with the team taking three stage victories with Paul Magnier, who also won the iconic maglia ciclamino. But perhaps most pleasing of all was the way the team came together around the young Frenchman throughout the three weeks of racing.
For Ayco Bastiaens, the race marked his first ever Grand Tour. For Dries Van Gestel, it was a reminder of just how rewarding it can be to play a key role in a successful sprint train.
Looking back on the race, both riders speak of a Giro that exceeded even their own expectations.
A fairy-tale beginning
“It felt like a fairy tale”, explained Bastiaens. “To start in Bulgaria, win immediately, take the pink jersey and then go all the way to Rome with the maglia ciclamino and take three stage victories was amazing.”
For a first Grand Tour, it couldn't have been better.
While the results looked impressive from the outside, Van Gestel admits there was no guarantee things would unfold so perfectly: “Of course we believed in Paul. He had already shown last year and this season that he is one of the fastest riders in the peloton. But when you arrive at a Grand Tour with riders like Jonathan Milan and the other top sprinters there, nothing is certain. That’s why winning the first stage and taking the pink jersey was such a relief. It was something we had talked about and dreamed about since January. To make it happen on day one was really special.”
A team fully committed
One of the defining features of the Giro was the commitment shown by every member of the squad.
Bastiaens spent countless kilometres on the front controlling stages and protecting the team’s ambitions, a role he embraced throughout the race.
“I’m always devoted to the team and I never have any problems motivating myself for that kind of work, but it’s always easier when you know you have one of the fastest riders in the bunch who can finish the job at the end of the day. It was a really nice group. Everybody was 100% committed and when you have that, the days pass very quickly. We were always looking forward to the sprint stages, and everybody had a good attitude. It was really fun.”
Van Gestel saw the same thing from inside the lead-out train: “On television we looked really solid and organised. When you’re actually doing it, it doesn’t feel like that at all. You’re constantly asking yourself if you’re doing enough and whether everything is going according to plan. But then you watch the footage afterwards and you see from the helicopter shots that everything looks calm and under control. It was nice to see because it reflected all the work that went into it.”
The victory nobody expected
Ask either rider for their standout moment and they both arrive at the same answer: Magnier’s victory on stage 18, his third of the race. The stage had been expected to be broken up by a short but sharp climb towards the end, but a combination of Paul’s supreme condition and some great teamwork guiding him meant the day would finish in a reduced bunch sprint. “I think that was my highlight”, said Bastiaens. “Nobody really believed at the start of the day that he could win.”
Van Gestel agreed: “We honestly didn’t expect it to end in a bunch sprint. The stage was hard, the GC riders were racing aggressively, and we thought it would be difficult just to limit losses in the points classification.”
Instead, the team rallied around Magnier once again, as Bastiaens explained: “We brought him back into position and he finished it off. To win the stage and strengthen his hold on the maglia ciclamino at the same time was incredible. It was a huge team effort. Everybody was so happy. That victory gave us a huge boost heading into the final week and was a big motivation to keep fighting all the way to Rome.”
Growing together
Van Gestel has spent the last two seasons working closely alongside Magnier and believes the Frenchman has matured significantly in that time.
When Paul first joined the team, he was full of energy.
“He wanted to sprint at every opportunity and spent energy simply because he loved riding his bike. Now he’s become calmer and more professional. He still has the same joy and enthusiasm, but he’s much more organised. You can see it in the small details and in the way he approaches racing.”
For Van Gestel, helping guide that development has become one of the most satisfying parts of his own role: “I’ve always enjoyed working for a leader. What gives me the most satisfaction is knowing I contributed to a victory. With Paul, I’ve found that feeling again. Seeing him win and knowing I played a part in it is something I genuinely enjoy.”
Looking ahead
The celebrations may now be over, but neither rider has had long to reflect. Bastiaens was back training within days of arriving home.
“Next week we’ll already be racing with Tim (Merlier) again, so it’s back to reality”, he laughs.
Still, the memories of Rome will stay with both riders for a long time. For Bastiaens, completing his first Grand Tour while helping Paul Magnier secure the points classification was the perfect introduction to three-week racing. For Van Gestel, it was a reminder of the power of teamwork and the satisfaction that comes from contributing to something special.
And for Soudal Quick-Step, it was three weeks that will be remembered for a very long time.
Photo credit: ©Dario Belingheri / Getty Images
