Meeus beats Van Aert among others to secure first win since Champs-Élysées: "I was never stressed"

It had been a while since Meeus last celebrated a win, with his most recent triumph on July 23, 2023, during the final stage of the Tour de France. After nearly a year without a win, he now remembers what it feels like to be victorious again. "Winning is always fun," said the man from Lommel.

"It was a hectic finale, as we had expected," the 25-year-old Flemish rider continued. "It took a long time before we finally caught the breakaway. We were constantly riding on the same roads, with only a few corners. That's why it took so long. In the finale, I also had to fix some things, as it was a battle for positions again. In the end, I stayed calm and was able to launch my sprint at the perfect moment."

"I'm very happy with this win," Meeus concluded, adding that he never felt stressed about his winless streak. "I haven't raced much, and the races I did were all big ones. But it's great to get the first win of the year."