Riesebeek celebrates 1st victory in spectacular Dwars door het Hageland, teammate Vermeersch is “disappointed” in 2nd place | Straight through the Hageland 2022
The Dutchman Oscar Riesebeek has booked the first victory of his career. After a spectacular race, the Alpecin-Fenix rider started the final climb on the Citadel in Diest with a small lead. His teammate Gianni Vermeersch came close, but knew he couldn’t win. He had brought Florian Sénéchal with him, who pointed disappointedly at a flat rear tyre.
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Lotto-Soudal had appeared at the start in Aarschot on a points hunt with a “star ensemble”. Leader and man in shape Arnaud De Lie was kept out of the wind all day by Florian Vermeersch, Tim Wellens and Victor Campenaerts.
On a third attempt, Wellens finally got away on the local lap near Diest. He got team mate Vermeersch with him, just like Taco van der Hoorn and Fabio Van den Bossche.
In the chase, no one really took the chestnuts out of the fire, partly due to bad luck. Yves Lampaert and Florian Sénéchal were both held up by a flat tire.
Riesebeek also surprises his own teammates
The two heavyweights of Quick Step still rejoined and with 10 km from the end everything had to be redone after their young teammate Stan Van Tricht closed the last hole on Wellens and co. had poem.
Oscar Riesebeek saw the moment had come for the last unpaved stretch of the day. The slender Dutchman from Alpecin-Fenix accelerated and nobody saw him again.
At the Citadel of Diest, his teammate Gianni Vermeersch came eerily close, but Riesebeek held on to the stones.
Vermeersch first knocked on his steering wheel in disappointment with his second place, after which joy followed. Florian Sénéchal still finished third on a flat tyre.
Riesebeek after first professional victory: “Special race”
Oscar Riesebeek was of course delighted with his first victory among the pros after his victory march. “This feels very good, so I’m not a winner.”
“We were in the first group with enough boys and then you have to ensure that you are always in a winning position. We all alternated well and as a team still pulled the longest straw.”
Riesebeek never drove Dwars door het Hageland before. “It’s a special race. I enjoyed watching the past editions on television and I think it’s great that I can now win myself.”
“Gianni Vermeersch was our outspoken man before the start and he was really well watched.”
Teammate Vermeersch: “Come back to win”
Teammate Gianni Vermeersch had mixed feelings after the race. He was able to win himself and in the end came second. “I had the legs to win myself, but of course I’m very happy for Oscar.”
“I come from the Giro in very good form. As a team, we had aimed for a good result and are 1 and 2 here, which is fantastic. We never had to undergo the race.”
Who is Oscar Riesebeek anyway? “He is a very cool boy who is always ready to drive for service. It is great that he can win.”
Vermeersch has already finished third twice and is now also second in Dwars door het Hageland. “The game suits me and I’m coming back to win.”
Check out the post-match reactions here
15h27. Florian Sénéchal finished third on a flat tyre, ahead of his younger teammate Stan Van Tricht. Löic Vliegen completes the top 5. †
Florian Sénéchal finished third on a flat tyre, ahead of his younger team mate Stan Van Tricht. Löic Vliegen completes the top 5.
3 p.m. 27 match finished
Riesebeek stands firm
Oscar Riesebeek makes it! Gianni Vermeersch even makes it a one-two for Alpecin-Fenix in a handful of seconds.
15 hours 26. Vermeersch still accelerates behind his own teammate, Sénéchal also goes along. †
Vermeersch still accelerates behind his own teammate, Sénéchal also goes along.
15 hours 26. Riesebeek looks back at the stones. He’s going to make it. †
Riesebeek looks back at the stones. He’s going to make it.
15 hours 25. What’s the lead? Sven Nys.
What’s the lead?
Sven Nys
15 hours 25. Lampaert runs completely empty for Sénéchal, Vanmarcke also moves up. †
Lampaert drives himself completely empty for Sénéchal, Vanmarcke also moves up.
Last km. Another 1,000 meters and Riesebeek can smell the victory. † 15 hours 25.
Last km.
Another 1,000 meters and Riesebeek can smell the victory.
18 seconds. Riesebeek starts with a bonus of 18 seconds at the Citadel. Will he stand? † 15 hours 24.
18 seconds
Riesebeek starts with a bonus of 18 seconds at the Citadel. Will he stand?
15h 23. Sénéchal and Lampaert take the chase. G. Vermeersch likes it to happen. †
Sénéchal and Lampaert take the chase. G. Vermeersch likes it to happen.
15 hours 23. Another 3 km. Riesebeek’s lead is getting bigger again because the Dutchman throws himself down like a stone towards Diest. †
3km to go
Riesebeek’s lead is getting bigger again because the Dutchman throws himself down like a stone towards Diest.
15h 22. Van Tricht pulls out all the stops to close the gap with Riesebeek. The youngest wolf of Quick Step rides an excellent course today. †
Van Tricht pulls out all the stops to close the gap with Riesebeek. The youngest wolf of Quick Step rides an excellent course today.
15h 22. Senechal and co. come to within 10 seconds. Vermeersch and De Lie are also well along, as is Tiller, last year’s winner. †
Senechal and co. come to within 10 seconds. Vermeersch and De Lie are also well along, as is Tiller, last year’s winner.
15h 21. Sénéchal goes all in. The men from Alpecin stop perfectly, but Sénéchal still finds a gap. It’s do or die now. †
Senegal goes all in
The men from Alpecin stop perfectly, but Sénéchal still finds a gap. It’s do or die now.
15h 21. Sénéchal adds fuel to the fire.
Sénéchal throws oil on the fire
Last time Grass Forest. Riesebeek starts to believe in his chances and proves him wrong. The slender Dutchman starts with a 22 seconds lead at Grasbos, the second to last slope of the day. † 3 p.m. 19.
Last time Grasbos
Riesebeek starts to believe in his chances and proves him wrong. The slender Dutchman starts with a 22 seconds lead at Grasbos, the second to last slope of the day.
21 seconds. Everyone is watching Lotto-Soudal. Tim Wellens realizes that something has to be done, because Riesebeek already has 21 seconds. † 15 hours 18.
21 seconds
Everyone is watching Lotto-Soudal. Tim Wellens realizes that something has to be done, because Riesebeek already has 21 seconds.
3 pm 17. The pace goes completely off in the chasing group. Bizarre. †
The pace goes completely off in the chasing group. Bizarre.
15 hours 16. Campenaerts late, he cannot be blamed today. †
Campenaerts lets go, he can’t be blamed today.
15 hours 15. Riesebeek actually drives further away on the unpaved strip. The Dutchman has 12 seconds. †
Riesebeek actually drives further away on the unpaved strip. The Dutchman has 12 seconds.
15 hours 14. In the chasing group it falls a bit quiet on the Demerdijk. What are they waiting for? †
In the chasing group it falls a bit quiet on the Demerdijk. What are they waiting for?
