Maxim Van Gils delivers strong performance at La Doyenne to conclude Ardennes campaign
Lotto Dstny rider Maxim Van Gils finished his Ardennes campaign on a high note, securing an impressive eleventh place at the grueling Liège-Bastogne-Liège race. This accomplishment follows his seventh place finish at the Amstel Gold Race and his eighth place finish at Flèche Wallonne earlier in the week.
Reflecting on his performance, Van Gils stated, “I really suffered today, but in a Monument like Liège-Bastogne-Liège, you just have to empty yourself until the finish and that’s exactly what I did. This is a third nice performance in one week’s time, and an eleventh place in my Doyenne debut is a good result.”
The Liège-Bastogne-Liège race, which covered nearly 260 kilometers in the Ardennes, proved to be a war of attrition. Van Gils and his teammate Andreas Kron battled for a top result in a sizable chasing group. Van Gils eventually sprinted to eleventh place on the Quai des Ardennes, while Kron unfortunately crashed and was unable to finish.
Commenting on the race, Van Gils explained, “It really was a fight between depleted riders who constantly attacked each other and I could clinch eleventh place.”
Kron, who had a strong race up until his crash, shared his experience, stating, “I was talking on my radio, was holding the handlebar with only one hand, hit a pothole and crashed. Luckily, I’m okay apart from some abrasions and soreness.”
The spring Classics have been a successful period for Lotto Dstny, and Van Gils’ performance in the Ardennes campaign is a testament to the team’s strength and potential for future success.
