Amstel’s biggest surprise? Visbeek’s rider shines: "It’s not just about the watts"

Barré's sixth place was hard-earned, as he was among the best riders in the race from the start. He showed his strength on the climbs and sprinted to a respectable finish. Surprising, but not really: Barré had already finished close to the top in several Spanish and French races this year, although those are of a different level than the Amstel.

"He's a guy we brought in from Arkéa - B&B Hotels. He wanted a more professional approach with more structure. He's a punchy type, which is ideal for this kind of race," said Visbeek. "We gave him a good program, and he got off to a good start in Mallorca. But every time, something happened that prevented him from finishing on the podium."

"He attacked a little too aggressively on occasion, so we gave him a good rest after Strade Bianche in preparation for this period," continues the Dutchman, who works for Intermarché-Wanty. "He already finished third in Paris-Camembert, but then he got a little sick in the Basque Country. However, he remained in the top twenty in the first two stages. When he became a little ill, we decided to take it easy and not let him ride the Brabantse Pijl."

That approach paid off in South Limburg. "He rode very smartly. I told him to follow Ben Healy, and that was the move. He was in a good position. Am I surprised with this sixth place? The top fifteen were realistic, but this is a bonus. For Louis himself, but certainly also for us as a team," says Visbeek, who sees his team continuing on the right track after their strong performance in Paris-Roubaix and their first victories.

What can we expect from Barré? "In terms of watts, it's no surprise to me. It was bound to happen sooner or later," says the scout in Visbeek, who has once again found a new gem. "Sometimes you have to look a little deeper. He was consistent but raced a lot over long periods with short preparation periods. That was also one of his problems, so he wanted to join our team."

"He's a very quiet, calm French guy," says Visbeek. "He's from Normandy—but now lives in Nice—where they're pretty easygoing. He's a hard worker. What can he achieve in the upcoming Ardennes races? From what I've seen, I think he can finish in the top ten there too."