ProTeam Arnaud De Lie raises his arms for the first time in Belgian champion colours
Alec Segaert started the last stage of the Renewi Tour in the leader’s jersey, but with small margins it was promised to be a nervous and hard stage. 21 riders took part in the early breakaway, with among them Brent Van Moer for Lotto Dstny. With 26 kilometers to go, the break got taken back. On the second climb of the iconic Muur Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates) attacked and Arnaud De Lie followed. After the Bosberg 5 other riders joined the leading duo. In the group behind, Alec Segaert kept pushing hard to defend his leader’s jersey.
On the Denderoodberg De Lie and Wellens rode away once again, going to a sprint with two on the cobbled finish in Geraardsbergen. De Lie won easily in front of Wellens, who took home the general classification before Segaert, who left it all out there today.
After winning the Tour of Denmark, the Belgian champion could raise his arms for the first time in his jersey: “It’s super special to win here in this jersey in Geraardsbergen. I felt very strong but the first goal was to defend the GC of Alec. It was my job to follow and there I also took away some boni seconds. Tim Wellens was really strong as well and with the weather it was even harder. I didn’t wait for the sprint, but I chose my moment and won. Alec becomes second in the GC in the end, which still makes a very successful week for the team.”
Alec Segaert finished the week as second in the GC, taking home the youth jersey. After winning his first WorldTour stage and riding in the leader’s jersey for three days, Segaert looks back satisfied: “We expected the chaos and tried to control. It wasn’t a bad situation with the big breakaway and Brent being part of it. They didn’t get a very big advantage, so I was quite confident we would take them back. In the end it was very hard, I can handle the warm weather quite well so that was good. Until the last time the Muur I felt strong, I came up there as fifth. In our group it was difficult to get it organised, in the end Tim wins the GC for the fourth time. It has been a fantastic week in any case and I will definitely come back and try again in the future.”
Pictures: PhotoNews
