Saturday October 12, 2024 at 8:50 PM
After a successful 2023, Visma | Lease a Bike had a lot of bad luck this year. Instead of overall victories in all the major tours, the Dutch formation had to settle for ‘only’ a second place in the Tour de France and there were also no victories in the monuments. In fact, the team is the only WorldTour team that did not achieve a top 10 place in all monuments.
In the Tour of Lombardy, an attacking Tiesj Benoot and Wilco Kelderman showed themselves. The pair were part of a strong early breakaway, but were unable to capitalize on their effort with a place of honour. Something that, according to the Belgian, should have been possible. “We created a nice situation with a sizeable leading group. The collaboration also went well,” he reported via the team website.
“Everyone knew that Pogacar would attack, but I think a place of honor would certainly have been possible today. Unfortunately, that’s not the case in the end, but we can’t blame ourselves for not trying. It is now time for a period of rest before we focus on preparing for next season,” Benoot further said.
A strong starting line-up in Lombardy – photo: Cor Vos
Milan-Saint Remo
But as mentioned, the men of the Dutch formation were unable to find places of honor in the other monuments either. What was it again? Visma | started in Milan-San Remo Lease a Bike with Olav Kooij and Christophe Laporte as leaders. While the Dutchman managed to make a good impression – he finished fourteenth, 35 seconds behind winner Jasper Philipsen – the then European champion was able to Spring don’t drive out. The Frenchman turned out to be suffering from an illness.
Best final ranking Milan-San Remo
14. Olav Kooij
Ronde and Roubaix
Due to his absence in Milan-San Remo – which he already had on his record – Wout van Aert had to start the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix in top form. But the horror crash in Dwars door Vlaanderen threw a spanner in the works. The spring ambitions of the outspoken leader could be put to rest.
In Flanders Most Beautiful revelation Matteo Jorgenson managed to show himself, but the team did not get further than fifteenth place with Benoot. In The Hell of the North seemed Visma | Lease a Bike will finally be able to add a good listing in a monument. But due to a sprint outside the lines, Tim van Dijke was dropped from eighth to sixteenth in Roubaix.
Best final ranking in the Tour of Flanders
15. Tiesj Benoot
Best final ranking Paris-Roubaix
16. Tim van Dijke
In Wallonia, Benoot again had to pull the chestnuts out of the fire for the Yellow B’s. The versatile Flemish finished twelfth in Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and that was all there was to it.
Best final ranking Liège-Bastogne-Liège
12. Tiesj Benoot
