Nice to meet you, Mauri Vansevenant. The barely 21-year-old Belgian has only been a professional since August, but immediately took a shot at victory in the Walloon Arrow. A fall in the final kilometers decided otherwise. “I could have won”, it sounded afterwards in an enthusiastic interview.
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Vansevenant was part of the early breakaway and was therefore in the lead for almost the entire day. “In any case, I always try to commit to every race. I felt very good today and wanted to join the breakaway, because I knew the finish was not for me ”, he stated in front of Sporza’s cameras. “Things went well in our group and we had a nice lead together. The victory was there, but unfortunately fate decided otherwise. ”
Vansevenant suddenly crashed a few kilometers from the finish, a fall that was barely visible. “I went into the corner too quickly”, he looked back. “In the final you drive to the limit, because you know it can come to any second. I entered the corner too fast, lost control of my bike and dived straight into the thorn bushes. Fortunately without any harm, but you cannot make up for the time you lose. ”
Foto: Photo News
However, he was already dreaming of victory, the man who has only been a professional for two months. “I could really win”, was Vansevenant convinced. “Chances were I would have kept it up. I don’t know exactly what my bonus was, but I think about thirty seconds. That could have been enough to make it on the final climb. My attack? We worked well together in the leading group, but the peloton approached quickly and then you have to choose. Either you get caught up, or you try something else. I felt good, so I had to give it a shot ”, Vansevenant concluded.
Foto: Photo News
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