Cyclo-cross world champion Wout Van Aert (Crelan-Vastgoedservice) proved that he can become a great road rider too by taking a surprise win in the Baloise Belgium Tour prologue. The Belgian covered the technical 6km course in Beveren in 6.52 which was enough to beat pre-race favourite Tony Martin (Etixx-QuickStep) by 2 seconds to become the first leader of the race. Reto Hollenstein (IAM) led the stage for most of the day but had to settle for third.

 

We have gathered several reactions.

 

Wout Van Aert: I never expected to beat a legend like Tony Martin

"I never expected this," said Wout Van Aert. "Of course I was hoping to do well. Together with my coach Marc Lamberts I really looked forwer to this Tour of Belgium. But winning the prologue? No, that exceeds expectations.

 

"It was really suffering, because I did not have the impression that I was really doing well. I have to especially thank my coach because I have less experience with such time trials. I followed his advice.

 

"I did not expect that I could beat a legend like Tony Martin. I will sleep well and hopefully we can defend the jersey. I believe in it, because we have a strong team.

 

“I always try to be good at this time to push my limits. This Tour of Belgium sits perfectly in my schedule."

 

"I beat a legend. It was really tough. I did not really have such a good feeling and therefore it surprised me that I had done such a good time. I even wonder how I did this up, I amaze myself. The condition must be good. I got a victory in my first road race in Belsele. Now I'm the best in the prologue of the Baloise Belgium Tour. That was an unlikely scenario. I try to peak for the national championships. After all, I must only focus on the coming cyclocross season, but I cannot deny that I take pleasure from this.

 

"Beforehand I was cautious in my statements, but now I can say that we are going to try to defend that jersey. I realize that this is an extremely difficult task. It may even go wrong tomorrow. But we will do our best. Basically the final standings in this stage race will be decided on Friday and Saturday. Hopefully the legs are equally good.

 

"The results show that we are strong. Of course Etixx-Quick Step, Lotto-Soudal and other World Tour teams are stronger in depth. But do not underestimate Crelan-Vastgoedservice. This year we have taken a big step forward.

 

"I want to silence those who claim that we have a less good team. Our team is able to control the race. Be sure of that."

 

"I had actually expected that Wout Van Aert would deliver a strong performance. He was all right at our trainig camp,” said sports director Kevin Hulsmans. "After the camo, he has trained individually on the time trial bike several times. That has paid off. After the prologue, he gave me his number. They were impressive. Last year Van Aert was very strong in this Baloise Belgium Tour. Bu he crashed.

 

"We have had a nice program before this Baloise Belgium Tour. In the Four Days of Dunkirk we won the queen stage with Xandro Meurisse. With Timothy Stevens, we won the kermesse in Verrebroek last Sunday. And Van Aert won immediately a kermesse in his comeback. Then you know that your riders are ready. We have a strong team and a solid block of friends, not unimportant. We will do everything to defend the leader's jersey of Wout Van Aert.”

 

Tony Martin optimistic after second place in Belgium Tour prologue

One of the oldest stage races in the world, the Belgium Tour scheduled a short but technical prologue on the first day, in Beveren, a small town located in the province of East Flanders, which hasn't hosted a stage for three years. At the end of the day, Tony Martin was the best placed rider of our team, rolling over the line just two seconds down on the winner, Wout Van Aert (Crelan-Vastgoedservice). Besides the German Champion, also Niki Terpstra and Yves Lampaert had a strong ride in the 6-km long prologue, their combined results sending Etixx – Quick-Step at the top of the teams standings.

 

"I'm happy about today, because I came here without putting any pressure on my shoulders, which was normal considering I took a long break after what was a busy spring. I felt good on the bike, the condition is there and I'm sure I will improve in the next stages. It's a pity that I finished second, as I always want to win when there's a time trial. We have a strong team here, many of our guys are in the top 10 and everything is possible, so I'm looking forward to this week", said the three-time ITT World Champion after the prologue.

 

Yves Lampaert frustrated after top performance in Belgian prologue

"I had too many doubts in the last corner. That cost me time. Otherwise I would definitely have beaten Reto Hollenstein and I would have finished third," Lampaert told Het Nieuwsblad. "It comes down to details in a short time trial of six kilometers. Each percent is important. In training I did the final corner perfectly but I suddenly had doubts.”

 

Reto Hollenstein shines for IAM in Belgium Tour prologue

Reto Hollenstein took third in the prologue behind Wout Van Aert (Crelan) and Tony Martin (Etixx - Quick Step).

 

“If someone had told me this morning that I would finish third, I would have been very happy to do that,” Reto Hollenstein admitted.  “But that the victory escaped me by just four seconds, I want to say that I really could have won.  If I had taken even just one turn faster, that could have made the difference.  But I prefer not to have regrets.  I know that I gave my maximum.”

 

“I spent the past ten days at an altitude training camp,” Hollenstein said. “I have been working with Marcello Albasini.  But honestly it is too early to feel the real benefits of the altitude.  This is also why I am delighted with this third place.  The Tour of Switzerland is one of my main goals.  I think I will be able to reach my peak form in time for that.”

 

Rik Verbrugghe explained: “Reto had a great race,” IAM Cycling sports manager Verbrugghe emphasized. “But the whole team in addition to Reto had a great day.  Martin Elmiger took sixth, Dries Devenyns was twelfth, Aleksejs Saramotins came in eighteenth, and Oliver Naesen was twenty-third.  And the differences were only seconds, so we have a lot of nice options for the general classification.  Wout Van Aert will undoubtable be the man to beat this week.  But we will try to exploit our surplus at the top of the leader table to make a surprise.”

 

Wout Van Aert won the stage by averaging 52,427km/h.  That was enough to win the prologue but not enough to dethrone Rik Verbrugghe from his pedestal.  The Belgian who was a professional himself still holds the record prologue average speed of 58,874km/h.

 

Nils Politt confirms his talent with great prologue in Belgium

In the streets of Beveren was Team KATUSHA’S Nils Politt the team’s strongest finisher in the 6 kilometer prologue of the Baloise Tour of Belgium. Politt finished 11th, 11 seconds behind the young winner, Belgian Wout Van Aert (Crelan – Vastgoedservice). Van Aert, the current elite world champion cyclocross, suprised by beating Tony Martin (Etixx - Quick Step) by two seconds. Reto Hollenstein (IAM Cycling) was third at 4 seconds.

 

”I cannot be unhappy with the perfromance of Nils Politt. He finished in the same time as the numbers 9 and 10 in the stage, and just few seconds behind the number six. There were only small gaps in this prologue. Just Van Aert and Martin were outstanding. Also Sergei Chernetckii surprised me in a positive way. Sergei finished 21st, 16 seconds behind, on a completely flat course, not really his specialty,” said Team Director José Azevedo.

 

Tomorrow’s stage to Buggenhout will be a stage for the sprinters.

 

“We are here without a sprinter, but on Saturday we will have an Ardennes stage that should suit us well. Chernetckii, Vicioso, Mamykin and Simon Špilak, in his first race since Tour de Romandie, should be at the front then,” concluded José Azevedo.

 

Jan Barta narrowly misses out on top 10 in Belgium Tour prologue

Best BORA – ARGON 18 rider was Jan Bárta in 13th position, 12 seconds behind Van Aert. For Barta, who needs long and hard courses to show his full potential, this prologue was a little too short.

 

“Our goal for today was a top ten result, but we knew it would be difficult for Jan to find his rhythm on this short course. Tomorrow the whole team will support Sam (Bennett). The slightly uphill finish could suit him well and I bet for a sprint finish tomorrow. For the GC we count on Jan (Bárta) and Silvio (Herklotz) this week. A top ten result would be good, but if everything is going fine then I think we could also end up in the top six, which would be great. From the guys who came here directly from the altitude camp I think we cannot expect too much this week,” Enrico Poitschke, sports director, said.

 

Big time loss for Tiesj Benoot in Belgium Tour prologue

Tiesj Benoot (Lotto Soudal), one of the top favorites for the final victory, was 70th at 26 seconds. 

 

"I think Benoot did an ordinary time trial. Not super good, but certainly not bad," sports director Herman Frison told Het Nieuwsblad. "He is with the rest of the non-specialists. Friday and Saturday are decisive for this race. Of course, every lost second is important, but there is certainly no superior rider. Benoot is a very talented rider, but time trialling is still his weakness although he trained for it in recent weeks. My rider is sharp. On Saturday evening we will know more.”

 

Lars van der Haar shows form in Belgium Tour prologue, Simon Geschke still in GC contention

Lars van der Haar showed some good form after his last race being the Tour de Yorkshire to clock a time of 7’10” on the 6km course around Beveren to finish 26th.

 

Also in the mix was Simon Geschke who put in a time of 7’12” which was good enough for 38th place, as the rest of the Giant-Alpecin completed the course without troubles.

 

“I was not feeling great after a long time without any races but I am satisfied with the result,” explained Simon Geschke. “I didn’t lose too much time in the overall classification, so that’s good.”

 

Lars van der Haar said: “I managed to do a good time trial today and I am really proud of my performance.”

 

Coach Arthur van Dongen added: “Our guys did a good prologue today and they paced their effort very well. We saw good rides from Lars and Simon which was good to see, and we are now looking forward to some tough stages ahead.”