Secretly, Kevin Vauquelin had come to the idea on Wednesday during the final that victory was within his reach. Strong in the head, strong in the legs despite the complicated weather conditions, the young 22-year-old from Normandy had almost succeeded in the hardest part at the foot of the Huy wall, convincing himself that nothing could stop him.
Already present in the main breakaway in the last part of the race, he had wisely bided his time. “I knew that it (the breakaway) was doomed to failure but it was better to be at the front,” he explained, “I felt that I had the legs to do more . So I was waiting for the right moment. » But Stephen Williams’ attack 250 meters from the finish disrupted his plan. “My fingers were so frozen that I couldn’t change gears the way I wanted to. I messed up but also because I waited too long to launch my last effort. » However, he kept smiling after the protocol, preferring to keep in mind the main part of this day, the second place (so rare for a Frenchman) on the podium of the Flèche Wallonne.
“I gained weight, I feel more comfortable at this level”
“These are results in World Tour events that feel good,” he confirmed, “and this is also the goal that I have set for myself this season. I’ve gotten better, I feel more comfortable at this level, so I’m starting to discover myself. It’s good to be there but I know I could have done even better. »
After Luca Mozzato’s second place at the Tour of Flanders, the Arkéa-B & B Hotels team continues to take on events that seemed inaccessible to them until then. “Luca’s place in the Ronde made us understand that everything was possible,” explained the Norman again on Wednesday afternoon. We ourselves didn’t know that he was capable of such a performance, so it pushes us all up. »
