Tim Wellens lance les hostilités sur le #renewitour avec Arnaud De Lie et Per Strand Hagenes. Le coureur de l'UAE team Emirates a pris 8" de bonification au Green Km
And that's four! Wellens wins Renewi Tour again, De Lie triumphs in Geraardsbergen
CyclingSunday, 01 September 2024 at 16:08
Tim Wellens has won the Renewi Tour for the fourth time. The Belgian rider from UAE Team Emirates was beaten by Belgian champion Arnaud De Lie in the final stage, but he gained time on all his competitors for the overall classification.
After Saturday's flat stage, which was won by Jasper Philipsen, it was time for the queen stage. And it was one to relish: the fifth stage covered over two hundred kilometers through the famous Flemish roads. It was a course filled with famous climbs: the Oude Kruisberg, Berg Ten Houte, and, of course, the Wall of Geraardsbergen.
The talk of the day was the absence of Mathieu van der Poel. The Alpecin-Deceuninck team leader did not start in the last stage due to knee pain after an injury in the time trial. The world champion nearly crashed but managed to recover. During the save, he hit his knee, and the pain did not subside. Therefore, he and his team did not want to take any risks.
Large group ahead, favorites keep control
A lot of riders were eager to make a move in the fifth stage of the Renewi Tour. A group of 21 riders broke away early, featuring some strong names like Matteo Trentin (Tudor Pro Cycling), Edward Teuns (Lidl-Trek), Dries De Bondt (Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale), Per Strand-Hagenes (Visma | Lease a Bike), and Nils Politt (UAE Team Emirates). However, the peloton never let them gain much time, as the general classification contenders were keen to control the race and compete for the stage and overall victory. As the pace increased and the course took its toll, the breakaway group began to thin out.
With about fifty kilometers to go, Matej Mohoric (Bahrain-Victorious) attacked on the Bosberg, bringing along GC leader Alec Segaert (Lotto Dstny) and Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek). It was a chaotic phase with little control as the teams were scattered across the field due to the rapid succession of climbs. At the front, the breakaway split apart on the Muur, leaving De Bondt, Marco Haller (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), Jonas Rutsch (EF Education-EasyPost), and Tomás Kopecký (TDT-Unibet Cycling Team) in the lead.
Later, Strand-Hagenes, Trentin, and Brent van Moer (Lotto Dstny) managed to bridge back, creating a group of seven leaders. They rode together to the final full ascent of the Muur, where the breakaway was caught by the peloton, led by Arnaud De Lie. On the steepest part, Wellens launched his anticipated attack. Only De Lie and the strong Strand-Hagenes could initially keep up. Behind them, Segaert was forced to lead the chase group by himself. Without support, this allowed more attacks to happen. Wellens pushed on and increased his lead, solidifying his victory.
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Six breakaway riders fail to cooperate amid chaos behind
Three riders managed to break away from the chasing group. Mohoric, Stan Dewulf (Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale), and Dutchman Rick Pluimers (Tudor Pro Cycling) successfully bridged the gap. Later, Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ) also joined them. This gave us seven leaders at the front, but there was a lack of cooperation among them. The riders kept bickering constantly, with one attacking and then another taking a turn. Meanwhile, it was the same story behind them, resulting in the Wellens group starting the final ten kilometers with about a thirty-second lead. Segaert, without any support, found himself in a tough spot and seemed likely to lose his leader's jersey.
On the penultimate climb, the Denderoordberg, Wellens pushed the pace again. De Lie was able to keep up, while Mohoric, Pluimers, and Strand-Hagenes struggled. Dewulf and Madouas tried to reconnect, but Wellens, focused solely on the general classification, powered through relentlessly. Gradually, the two Belgians disappeared from the chasers' view. The peloton was defeated: it was clear that Wellens and De Lie would battle for the stage win. On the final uphill stretch in Geraardsbergen, De Lie overtook Wellens to claim victory. Wellens crossed the line in second, celebrating, knowing he had done enough to secure the overall win. Behind them, Madouas finished third, ahead of Pluimers.
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Latest Comments
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024
- What load of rubbish. Pog is likely a once in a generation cyclist, the like of which hasn't been seen since 'the Cannibal '. How many people were complaining that Merckx was making racing predictable? I remember this year's World RR as one of the most exciting I've watched. Mainly BECAUSE Pog was the favourite and launched what everyone thought (Pog included) was a suicidal attack with 80km to go. For the next 2 hours, I was on the edge of my seat thinking "this is too much, even for Pog". Maybe Zonnefeld prefers the snooze-fest that is a bunch sprint? Like most people I know, I can't watch two hours of the bunch riding very fast... I wait for the final 5km and watch just the sprint. In any event, most races are won from a sprint or lone break. What difference does it make who makes the lone break? Ultimately, the other contenders will have to figure out a way to beat Pog. Even if that means collaboration between teams. It's going to be an exciting few seasons, until the next Pog arrives on the scene. If this is boring, heaven knows what exciting looks like!Michael513-10-2024
- This is not a gravel race. UCI fail, from the surface they are on to team tactics. In what country was the first "gravel race" in what country is the most popular gravel race? Go with the race model that created the discipline.
Barnes127411-10-2024 - And don't forget he has now won 4 of the big 10 races (Grand tours, Monuments and WC/OG) in one year with a chance to make that 5. (5 has only been done once before)Joostmehrtens05-10-2024