For Tiesj Benoot, his victory at Sunday’s Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne was greater than a late transfer to cap off what was a dominant Opening Weekend for his Jumbo-Visma workforce, however the end result of a comeback from a critical damage that had him doubting whether or not he’d ever race once more.
Just below seven months in the past, the Belgian all-rounder was hit by a driver whereas out coaching close to Livigno within the Italian Alps, struggling a neck fracture within the course of and instantly ending his 2022 season.
Whereas his accidents weren’t life-threatening, the crash nonetheless affected him severely, he mentioned within the press convention following his win in Kuurne. After making his racing return only a day earlier as a part of the squad which dominated Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, he had received already.
“It is unimaginable to win on my second day of racing already after seven months out,” Benoot mentioned. “Just a few months in the past, I doubted whether or not I used to be going to be a bicycle owner anymore. Yesterday, I instantly felt that my legs had been adequate to win.
“I had that feeling in coaching too, however it’s good to substantiate. For a rider like me who would not win a lot, that is particular.”
His late transfer following the ultimate bend of the 193km race noticed him seize solely the fourth win of his profession, the earlier victory coming at Paris-Good three seasons in the past.
It was the final blow struck in a day of them, many by his Jumbo-Visma workforce, who, like that they had on Saturday, went lengthy with an acceleration on Le Bourliquet 84km from the end. Extra assaults and splits would observe, ending with Benoot and Van Hooydonck outthinking and overpowering breakmates Matej Mohorič (Bahrain Victorious), Taco van der Hoorn (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty), and Tim Wellens (UAE Staff Emirates) within the finale.
“We knew we needed to begin the race early,” Benoot mentioned. “The final 60km are fairly simple and with sturdy sprinters right here we wished to strive one thing totally different, and we did. Pulling that off is much less apparent than it appears, however we managed to execute an bold plan completely two days in a row.
“I’d react if Wellens attacked, and Nathan would if Mohorič attacked. In fact, we additionally deliberate to assault, so that is what we did. Nathan went at 3km to go, and he actually put strain on Mohorič and Wellens. That gave me an armchair experience, after which I attempted as soon as. Perhaps it wasn’t full on, however it was the best way to make a niche.”
“Nathan went once more simply earlier than the final nook and I feel that was by intuition,” Benoot added. “They reacted after which straight after the final nook I went. I assumed I noticed Wellens coming again and I knew that if somebody closed the hole then their dash can be good.
“Luckily, I used to be sturdy sufficient to remain forward and Nathan took second. It was magnificent once more!”
Benoot’s victory on Sunday adopted new teammate Dylan van Baarle’s win at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and marked solely the second time since 1984 that one workforce had pulled off a clear sweep of the Opening Weekend. It was QuickStep in 2019 that had been the one others to take action within the years since Eddy Planckaert and Jos Lammertink did the double for Panasonic all these years in the past.
Jumbo-Visma had been merely a category above the remainder of the peloton throughout the weekend, and whereas Benoot acknowledged that could be the case, he did say the workforce needed to maintain perspective.
“I am not going to argue that, however it’s essential that we keep essential about ourselves,” he mentioned. “That was the very first thing we mentioned at coaching camp in December. Final yr we had been the fox searching the rabbit, now we are the rabbit in entrance of the fox.”
