Caleb Ewan Wins GP de Fourmies, Securing Lotto Soudal’s 25th Victory of the Season
Sprinter Caleb Ewan took home yet another victory for Lotto Soudal in the 89th Grand Prix de Fourmies. Ewan sprinted to the finish line, outpacing a small group of contenders in a thrilling race that was overshadowed by a late crash, severely reducing the number of riders vying for victory. Ewan’s teammate, Jasper De Buyst, played a crucial role in positioning him for success. This win marks Ewan’s seventh triumph of the season.
In a race featuring a collection of top sprinters, the GP de Fourmies was always going to be a showdown between the fastest riders. The breakaway was eventually reeled in by the peloton during the final kilometers, but not without incident. A crash caused multiple riders, including Arnaud De Lie, to hit the ground. In the end, a significantly reduced group contested the sprint, with De Buyst expertly guiding Ewan to the front. Ewan responded to a move by contender Groenewegen and delivered a blistering acceleration to secure his well-deserved victory.
Ewan commented on the team’s performance, saying, “We came here with the goal of winning the race and thanks to an impressive team effort, we managed to take the victory. It’s nice to reward the guys with the team’s 25th victory of the season.”
Despite the change in tactics following De Lie’s crash, Lotto Soudal demonstrated their strength and adaptability. De Buyst’s exceptional performance ensured their success in the face of adversity.
Ewan reflected on the altered plan, stating, “The original plan was that Jasper would drop Arnaud off for the sprint, with me tucked in his wheel, due to the difference in size obviously. That way we were supposed to try and go for a 1-2 but unfortunately that changed as Arnaud was involved in the big crash… I decided to wait a little bit and in the end it worked out perfectly.”
Despite the disappointment of not having his teammate on the podium, Ewan acknowledged De Buyst’s outstanding lead-out and expressed gratitude for his efforts. De Lie, although disappointed, did not suffer any significant injuries in the crash.
Lotto Soudal continues to assert their dominance in the peloton with their 25th victory of the season, solidifying their reputation as a formidable force in the world of cycling.
Image: Photo News.
