Paul Penhoët back in the mix!
# Paul Penhoët Powers to Fourth Place at the Renewi Tour
Following a challenging start to the Renewi Tour, Paul Penhoët showcased his resilience and skill on Saturday during the fourth stage, clinching a commendable fourth place finish in Bilzen-Hoeselt. This significant achievement marks his fifteenth top-10 finish of 2025, as he continues to make waves in the cycling world. Teammate Valentin Madouas is currently positioned tenth overall, just ahead of the decisive hilly stage in Leuven.
The day began with expectations of a calmer ride after the previous encounters on the Flemish climbs. The route from Riemst to Bilzen-Hoeselt spanned 200 kilometers with around 1,500 meters of climbing; nonetheless, a bunch sprint was anticipated on the uphill finish. “The plan today was really to set up a sprint for Paul and keep him sheltered all day,” explained team manager Thierry Bricaud. He added, “It wasn’t planned to go in the breakaway. Plus, there wasn’t much wind, so no real danger. It was a fairly calm day, probably the least stressful since the start, even though the finale was tense because we couldn’t waste time chasing the break.”
Penhoët, though feeling the fatigue from the past three days, found his rhythm as the pace increased. “My legs felt heavy at the start after three hard days, but when the pace picked up with 80 kilometers to go, I started to feel good again,” he shared. His familiarity with the finishing stretch, having previously raced it last year, contributed to his confidence.
As the race neared its conclusion, a breakaway group had established a nearly five-minute lead, prompting the peloton to intensify their efforts in the last 40 kilometers. “We were always up front, and on small roads it always hurts more if you’re caught at the back,” Paul noted. “We managed it well.” The final kilometers saw mounting tension as the pack surged forward. Penhoët, despite losing the wheels of his teammates Johan and Clément in the chaos, remained composed. “I didn’t panic, even when I was a bit far back at the flamme rouge, because I knew the finish was tough and long.”
Ultimately, Penhoët’s strategic maneuvering bore fruit as he capitalized on an opening in the finishing straight, propelling himself to fourth place with a powerful sprint. “He knew he would find openings in the slipstream, and that’s exactly what happened,” Thierry lauded. “He committed fully, the door stayed open, and he delivered a very good sprint, showing pure speed.”
Reflecting on the race, Penhoët expressed a mix of satisfaction and determination. “It’s reassuring and feels good to finally launch my sprint, unlike the first two days which were very frustrating. Now I know my form is good; I feel stronger in the sprint, but I need to work on positioning,” he acknowledged.
As the Renewi Tour approaches its final stages, the general classification remained largely intact, with Madouas now sitting tenth and 58 seconds behind leader Arnaud De Lie. With further challenges ahead, Bricaud emphasized the importance of strategic racing: “It could be messy, so we’ll need to be smart opportunists.”
