This Tuesday, Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux not only rode at home on Binche-Chimay-Binche (1.1, 5/10), but the team was also competing in the last Belgian race of the professional cycling calendar of the season. The 34th edition of the Walloon classic also marked Ludwig De Winter‘s last competition in the professional peloton, after three years of loyal service with the team.
Although the start was given in the rain and in an almost wintry cold, the events turned into a party for the men led by Hilaire Van der Schueren and Aike Visbeek. Below 10 degrees, the peloton split into four after 80 kilometers of racing, coming back within easy reach of the early morning breakaway that fled after an hour of racing. Present in the first group behind the fugitives, the winner of the 2018 edition Danny van Poppel could count on Jonas Koch, Andrea Pasqualon and Pieter Vanspeybrouck by his side.
A strong collective presence which proved to be decisive, as the Dutch sprinter benefited from the control work of his teammates in the local circuit of Binche, so that no one could thwart the outcome of a sprint. Knowing the final hectometers perfectly, Danny Van Poppel took off on the pavement next to the Grand-Place, and powerfully delivered the team’s ninth victory in 2021. Also among the best, Andrea Pasqualon finished tenth.
« I wanted to win for the team because we are at home, and for Lulu (De Winter) today. Since I met him he has always talked to me about this beautiful city of Binche and this race in particular. I knew the final having won here in 2018 and we can say that I won almost the same way. I would like to thank my teammates who helped me to earn this victory, another highlight in this magnificent season. Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux has given me all the confidence since I came here in 2020 and it is thanks to them that I have been able to remain consistent and deliver the best season of my career so far. I still have Paris-Bourges and Paris-Tours on the program, but I made this race my big goal. I am very happy with this victory. »
