For the second year in a row, the Belgian finished in the top ten at the one-day World Tour race.
There was a lurking danger of echelons long before the start of this year’s Ronde van Brugge, and many knew the crosswinds would offer the opportunity to race aggressively on the exposed roads where the peloton ended up averaging 47.5km/h Wednesday afternoon.
For more than 100 kilometers, a breakaway didn’t materialize despite numerous attempts, as the bunch travelled at some incredible speed, nullifying any potential attempts. Inside the second part of the course, strong crosswinds immediately caused splits and slowly whittled down the peloton. Our team remained attentive throughout and made sure of being in the main group with Laurenz Rex and Bert Van Lerberghe, but after a frantic chase, those behind managed to come back.
Another round of crosswinds ripped through the field, leaving only some 30-odd riders in contention on the last lap of the race. Around 15 kilometers from the finish, former Belgian Champion Yves Lampaert tried to roll the dice, attacking and opening a small gap, but despite his best efforts, the others reacted and kept things together. Further attacks ensued, yielding the same outcome, and the race was decided in a reduced bunch sprint, where Dylan Groenewegen (Unibet Rose Rockets) took the win.
Top ten in Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, runner-up in the Samyn Classic, and third on the last stage of Tirreno-Adriatico were all results that recommended Laurenz Rex for a top ten at the Ronde van Brugge, and the Belgian didn’t disappoint. Despite the hectic finish - where several riders crashed - the end of a wearing day, the 26-year-old sprinted to eighth place.
“It was a hard day, but we did a good race, and when the peloton fragmented, we were in the first group with several riders. I’m happy I could stay on my bike when the crash took place just before the line, but I had to start my sprint from far. Overall, I had a good feeling and this gives me a lot of confidence for the next Classics”, Laurenz explained at the finish.
Photo credit: ©Luc Claessen / Getty Images
