With a perfect sprint in the GP Monseré, Gerben Thijssen obtained the seventh victory of Intermarché-Circus-Wanty this Sunday.
He rewarded the great work of his young team, with an average age of 23, who assumed the responsibility from the beginning of the race with Tom Paquot in the lead of the peloton.
During the majority of the race, the young Walloon rider controlled the gap with the nine leaders, who were caught in the third and last lap between Ichtegem and Roeselare.
The rest of the team then prepared the final for Gerben Thijssen, the protected rider for a bunch sprint. He was perfectly positioned by the team in the slipstream of Caleb Ewan, passed the Australian sprinter in the final straight and crossed the finish line first with a bike throw.
He achieves his first victory of the season and the first one of the Walloon World Team on Belgian soil in 2023.
« My first thoughts go to my six teammates, who I wish to thank for their efforts from the first to the last kilometer: Dries De Pooter, Julius Johansen, Madis Mihkels, Tom Paquot, Boy van Poppel et Roel van Sintmaartensdijk. I also want to mention the important role of my sports directors. Last season, Dimitri Claeys played an important role as a teammate in my first professional victory in the Dunkirk Four Day and it was the same today in the DS car. » « Dimitri and Boy strongly advised me to choose for the slipstream of Caleb Ewan before the launch of the sprint and my teammates perfectly brought me in this position. With 300 meter to go I was boxed in for a couple of seconds before I could launch my sprint. First, I thought this cost me the victory. But then the photofinish brought relief. It is an incredible feeling to precede a champion like Caleb Ewan. This victory is for team Intermarché-Circus-Wanty, who has an unwavering confidence in me. »
