the dutch Mathieu Van der Poel (Alpecin Deceuninck) showed a good moment of form before the upcoming World Championship on the road, winning the 62nd edition of the GP Wallonia, a one-day Belgian race of 199.7 km between the towns of Blegny and the Citadel of Namur , in one that classified the Spanish in the third Gonzalo Serrano (Movistar).
In an explosive and exciting finale, where Gonzálo Serrano, recent winner of the Tour of Britain, fought for victory, Van der Poel (Kapellen, 27 years old) showed the right path on the eve of the World Cup in Wollongong (Australia) next day 25.
Van der Poel managed to catch Belgian Dylan Teuns and Serrano, entering a battle at the finish line, where the four-time cyclo-cross world champion accelerated to beat Eritrean Biniam Girmay (Intermarché) and Serrano in the sprint. The man from Madrid took the podium and earned 50 UCI points to consolidate Movistar’s survival in the top category.
“We are calmer in the classification, but the points we get are welcome. I fight for the victory, but I worked hard to follow Teuns. Then Van der Poel is the strongest”, Serrano said at the finish line.
The test had a long break, starring the Belgians Johan Meens and Giani Marchand, the Norwegian Martin Urianstad and the French Ewen Costiou. Together they rode under the control of the peloton until the Cota de Tienne aux Pierres (1.2 km in 4.2), 15 minutes from the finish line, the last survivor, 19-year-old Breton Costiou (Arkea), was attack alone. like a wild boar on the banner from 4 km to the finish line.
The end is disturbed by the narrow road that gives way to the 2.5 climb to the Citadel of Namur (4 km at 4 percent), with cobbled sections, where Movistar, ambitious, stayed in front with Óscar Rodríguez and Gonzálo Highlander.
Girmay Intermarché led the climb with up to 4 men, but Belgian Dylan Teuns was surprised by an attack at 1,500 meters, where Gonzalo Serrano’s tire stuck. Both opened a gap, but the reaction of the Alpecin and the Eritrean in the first man did not allow the Spaniards to reach the finish line to sign the victory.
Van der Poel imposed his law with a strong sprint, showing his good form for the World Cup. A warning to candidates for the rainbow jersey. Sixth victory of the season for the Dutchman, double winner of the Tour of Flanders, Amstel and Strade Bianche.
Van der Poel replaces Frenchman Christophe Laporte, winner in 2021, on the list of winners.
Source: La Verdad
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