Van Kerckhove secures overall victory in the Istrian Spring Tour
# Matisse Van Kerckhove Triumphs in Istrian Spring Tour, Marking Career Milestone
In a thrilling culmination to the Istrian Spring Tour, nineteen-year-old Belgian cyclist Matisse Van Kerckhove claimed overall victory, solidifying his place as a rising star in the cycling world. Reflecting on the momentous occasion from Croatia, Van Kerckhove stated, “It was a very tough day, but I’m really happy that we managed to pull it off. We truly did it together as a team today, and that’s what I’m most proud of.” His win not only included a stage victory on Saturday but also marked his first overall classification triumph with his team, a significant milestone in his career.
As Van Kerckhove prepares to transition from the Team Visma | Lease a Bike Development Team to a WorldTeam next year, he acknowledged the importance of the season for his personal development. “I have already had the chance to do a few professional races, and I learned a lot from them. That’s paying off now. This season is mainly about development for me,” he explained.
The team’s sports director, Sierk Jan de Haan, expressed pride in his team’s extraordinary effort throughout the challenging week. “It was anything but easy this week. Everyone sacrificed themselves today to defend Matisse’s leader’s jersey. We were under pressure with attacks coming from all directions. Defending the leader’s jersey was something new for the guys. It was a great learning experience, with a fantastic end result.”
De Haan reminisced about the previous year’s difficulties for Van Kerckhove, who had to abandon the race due to injury at the same event. “Back then, Matisse was sitting next to me in the team car during the final stage because he had abandoned the day before. One year later he wins the race. He has made tremendous progress,” he reflected.
Highlighting Van Kerckhove’s growth, De Haan noted, “He has already had a taste of racing with the WorldTeam. After a strong winter training block, he arrived here in good shape as well. This week, Matisse was racing against riders his own age, and then you still have to prove yourself. He didn’t just do that with his performances, but also by taking on a real leadership role within the team and guiding his teammates. I really enjoy seeing that,” he concluded.
Van Kerckhove’s remarkable achievements at the Istrian Spring Tour not only mark a pivotal point in his burgeoning career but also set the stage for an exciting future as he gears up for challenges at the WorldTeam level.
