Lotto Dstny Riders Secure Second and Third Place in Rain-Soaked Volta Limburg Classic

Lotto Dstny showcased their collective strength in the wet conditions of the Volta Limburg Classic, with Maxim Van Gils and Pascal Eenkhoorn taking second and third place respectively. While they couldn’t outpace the fast legs of Kaden Groves in the final, the team’s performance was nothing short of impressive. Milan Menten also excelled by winning the sprint for fifth place.

The race in Limburg was drenched in rain, but that didn’t deter three Lotto Dstny riders from making it to the final: Maxim Van Gils, Pascal Eenkhoorn, and Milan Menten. As the downpour continued, the leading group gradually thinned out until only three riders remained at the front for the final 40 kilometers: Pascal Eenkhoorn, Maxim Van Gils, and Kaden Groves.

During the final stretch, Groves launched several attacks. Eenkhoorn struggled to keep up as the Australian rider and Van Gils headed towards the finish line. In the sprint, Van Gils had to settle for second place. Van Gils said, “I believed in it. Kaden did all the work in the last 20 kilometres and I was hoping he wouldn’t have much of a sprint left. But, he immediately pushed really hard in the sprint and I quickly noticed he had more power in his legs, which is a pity. It was really a very difficult day, on a tough course and with rain all day long. That was not really pleasant, but okay, you have to go through it. I can live with this second place and I am especially proud of the team. We rode a very strong race.”

Eenkhoorn was content with his third-place finish, acknowledging Groves’ dominance. He said, “I tried to get away, but Kaden countered me and then my tank was empty. He rode another 20 kilometres in the lead with Maxim in his wheel and still won the race. So, he simply was the strongest rider today, that you have to accept. He showed his strong legs already last week in the Tour of Catalonia and won two stages. So we knew it wasn’t going to be easy to beat him. We did our best, rode a strong race with the team and put in a great performance. Second and third is a pity, of course, you always ride for the win, but you need to have the legs for it.”