Second career top ten for the Belgian at the only Dutch race on the World Tour calendar.
Mauri Vansevenant had a solid outing Sunday afternoon, kicking off the Ardennes Classics with a good result for him and Soudal Quick-Step, after a long and demanding day in the saddle. The 27-year-old, top ten earlier this season at the AlUla Tour, Muscat Classic and Trofeo Laigueglia, had strong climbing legs but also a powerful sprint, which earned him a well-deserved seventh place in Valkenburg, where this 60th edition came to a conclusion.
Our team tried to animate the race before the final lap with Pepijn Reinderink, who twice attacked, the last time opening a one-minute gap which allowed him to stay at the front for almost 20 kilometers before being reeled in. Vansevenant then made the initial key selection on the Kruisberg - one of the day’s crucial hills - before what soon became the main group of the race split again, leaving only three men at the front. Mauri was one of the eight chasers, who worked well together as they tried to limit the damage and remain in contention for a top ten finish.
On the Cauberg, some of the riders in the group put in a dig in the hope of getting away, but it stayed together, and in the sprint, Mauri had a good turn of legs that netted him a third top-ten in an Ardennes Classic.
Overall, I can be happy about my race and result.
“When the main attacks came in the final hour, I missed some punch to follow. The gap wasn’t that big, but it was difficult to really chase them as some of them had teammates in that group. On the last time up the Cauberg, everybody was looking at each other because we were all on the limit. Then, in the sprint, I gave everything I had and I’m happy of what I could do from a group containing so many strong riders. It’s a promising start to our week”, Mauri said after the opener for the Ardennes Classics.
Photo credit: ©Wout Beel
