Jelle Wallays: Master of the breakaway that frustrated Sagan, Voeckler, Van Baarle and Kwiatkowski

2023 marked the final year as a professional cyclist for many riders, including Jelle Wallays. A big, strong, robust Belgian, Wallays twice claimed victory in the classic Paris-Tours and had a particularly glorious moment in a grand tour as an underdog breakaway rider. IDLProCycling.com takes one last look at Wallays' career.

Wallays was born in Roeselare and turned pro at age 21 with Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise. Over six seasons, this formidable rider stayed with the team, achieving several significant victories for the relatively small team that always gave young talents room to grow. This earned him a chance in the top league of cycling, where, unfortunately, Wallays didn't quite make it to the top, but still secured some impressive wins.

Outsmarting Voeckler, Kwiatkowski and Van Baarle in spring and fall classics

In the early years of his twenties, Wallays had the opportunity to turn pro with Topsport Vlaanderen. The small team, often receiving wildcards for bigger races on Belgian soil, mainly made its mark in slightly lower-level races. Wallays quickly contributed to the team’s success.

2010 was his first year with the team, and in that year, Wallays won the important Belgian one-day race Grand Prix Criquielion. His knack for winning one-day races was further confirmed when he won Paris-Tours for U23 riders. This proved to be a harbinger for later years, as the October race would bring more honors.

Wallays is a master at finishing successful breakaways, often proving to be the toughest in a small group. In this capacity, he secures some remarkable victories. In the finale of Paris-Tours 2014, he finds himself in a breakaway with veteran Thomas Voeckler. Unable to contain himself, Voeckler starts the sprint early. Wallays waits patiently and easily sprints past the experienced Frenchman, securing a huge victory for the modest Topsport Vlaanderen team, and particularly for Wallays himself.

His feat in Dwars door Vlaanderen the following year is perhaps even more impressive. Along with teammate Edward Theuns, he ends up leading the race with none other than world champion Michal Kwiatkowski and a young Dylan van Baarle. The Topsport Vlaanderen men play the team game to perfection. Wallays wins, Theuns takes second place and the small team once again claims a major victory in a classic. This win earns Wallays a transfer to Lotto-Soudal.

Wallays stays ahead of Sagan as a successful breakaway rider and finds confirmation in Tours

At Lotto-Soudal, Wallays gets a taste of riding in grand tours. He participates in the Vuelta in both 2016 and 2017, completing these races. In 2018, the then 29-year-old Belgian once again demonstrates his specialty. Wallays is part of a breakaway in a flat stage during the third week of the Vuelta. Will they make it or not? It's the classic question in the cat-and-mouse game between the breakaways and the peloton.

So often, the breakaway just doesn't make it, as was the case with the tragic New Zealander Jack Bauer in the 2014 Tour. Wallays was luckier in the Vuelta. Once again, he had the patience and insight to wait until the very last moment. Fellow escapee Sven Erik Bystrom couldn't hold back and started the sprint, with Wallays emerging from his slipstream at the last moment. The weary peloton arrived just too late, leaving world champion Peter Sagan frustrated. A typical Wallays victory and a dream stage win in a grand tour.

Meanwhile, Wallays continued to occasionally secure impressive victories. The last in the series is the 2019 edition of Paris-Tours. After a dramatic season, the opportunist chose his moment to break away. A powerful solo followed. Niki Terpstra and Oliver Naesen embarked on the pursuit together, but the adventurer from Lotto-Soudal had taken taken off. This time, not in a small group, but all alone as the first across the line, once again ahead of big names. Wallays won Paris-Tours for the second time in his career.

A surprising winner in major races, ahead of well-known names, and in a smart, decisive manner. And just too often to really be a surprise anymore. That was Jelle Wallays in a nutshell over a thirteen-year career. In his last years with Cofidis, the Belgian no longer achieved notable results. But those beautiful, strategically timed peak moments in significant races will be remembered forever. On to new horizons, Jelle!