This Sunday, April 21, the young squad of Wanty-ReUz-Technord led by Kévin Van Melsen got its work rewarded with a prestigious victory in the U23 version of Gent-Wevelgem.
The young Dutchman Huub Artz, the future rider of World Team Intermarché-Wanty who finished seventh in Paris-Roubaix U23 and Liège-Bastogne-Liège U23, had enough time to celebrate through the streets of Ypres after an impressive solo of 25 kilometers.
He dropped his last breakaway companion on the third and final passage of the Kemmelberg, the decisive moment during this 183 kilometer long classic. Despite a headwind and a chasing peloton, he won by over a minute ahead of the second.
This resulted in the first victory of the season for Wanty-ReUz-Technord, and his first personal success in a UCI race. Earlier this season, Artz achieved second place in the Dorpenomloop Rucphen and the Wim Hendriks Trophy and also a third place among the pros in the queen stage of the Tour of Oman.
"My legs were on fire, but I thought I went too early. It was my intention to wait for the Kemmelberg or even afterwards, because the headwind was not in favour of a long breakaway. But I started the Kemmelberg with a nice advantage and I felt I had the capabilities to accelerate. That's what I did once I was on the climb. I still had power left and the gap kept on growing so I continues my solo effort. Knowing that the gap didn't get smaller despite the chase of the peloton gave me wings. This victory represents a lot for me and for Wanty-ReUz-Technord. We worked so hard for this classics campaign. It already bore fruit in Paris-Roubaix and Liège-Bastogne-Liège with two nice results, but this victory is the cherry on top of the cake."
