Borgo wins GP Criquielion!
# Alessandro Borgo Triumphs at GP Criquielion
In a week marked by notable achievements, Bahrain Victorious celebrated another milestone as Alessandro Borgo captured victory at the GP Criquielion, held in Belgium. This win adds to the team’s success, which includes Afonso Eulálio donning the Maglia Rosa and Alec Segaert’s stage win at the Giro d’Italia.
The 21-year-old Italian sprinter clinched the title in a thrilling four-man sprint against Fred Wright (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) and Pierre Thierry (TotalEnergies), who finished in second and third place respectively. Gabriele Bessega (Polti VisitMalta) rounded off the leading quartet, with Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) trailing the peloton five seconds behind.
The UCI 1.1 race spanned 205 kilometers between Ath and Lessines in Wallonie, featuring an undulating parcours that included 1,837 meters of elevation gain. Cyclists faced multiple ascents of the Côte du Mont and Côte de Hurdumont, alongside five passages over the cobbled Rue la Blanche sector in Lessines.
The race maintained a compact peloton initially, until Bahrain Victorious’ Max van der Meulen initiated a breakaway. As expected, the race intensified in the final 50 kilometers with a flurry of attacks and splits. Ultimately, the critical move occurred with just 16 kilometers remaining when Borgo aligned with three other riders, swiftly gaining a decisive edge.
Borgo displayed his prowess by launching an acceleration with 2.4 kilometers to go, expertly positioning himself behind Fred Wright for the finale. As he burst forward in the closing meters, Borgo celebrated his inaugural professional victory.
“It has been a fantastic day for me and the team,” Borgo expressed, reflecting on his powerful win. “It was the first race where I had the chance to be the leader, and I took on the responsibility, even managing to win. Therefore, I’m super happy to add the first success of my professional career to the tally.”
Bahrain Victorious’ Sports Director, Nikolas Maes, lauded the team’s collective effort and Borgo’s execution. “From the beginning we were very attentive and committed to making the race hard enough. All seven riders were fully dedicated to the plan, and the race developed quite smoothly for us,” Maes noted. He emphasized the strategy behind the race and how Borgo’s instincts led to a successful finish.
Meanwhile, in Italy, Afonso Eulálio heads into the second rest day of the Giro d’Italia while maintaining the white jersey and securing second overall. As the team continues to focus on keeping him safe during the flat run into Milan, they look ahead to the final week of challenging mountain stages set to unfold.
This weekend’s triumph at the GP Criquielion signifies a bright future for the young sprinter and showcases the resilience and teamwork of Bahrain Victorious.
