More than 190 kilometers had to be covered on Ascension Day in and around Charleroi, on a tough course. The attempt of the classic early flight was neutralized 60 kilometers before the end. The start of a long drawn-out finale.
Steff Cras (Lotto-Soudal) opened the debates and Abram Stockman was also very active. It would pay the latter the price for fighting spirit.
In the end, they did not participate in the victory. In the last 20 kilometers the peloton broke in two. At the front there seemed no trace of Arnaud De Lie, but Lotto-Soudal had another iron in the fire: Philippe Gilbert.
In the last three kilometers the course was still uphill. Gilbert seemed to control the situation as if in its best days. A late retirement from Axel Zingle seemed to be the perfect target, but Gilbert suddenly ran out of fuel. He couldn’t take the hole anymore.
Andrea Pasqualon still had gunpowder in his legs in the last 500 meters. He had to time perfectly and eventually knocked Zingle just before the finish. For Pasqualon it is his ninth professional victory, his first since August 2019.
Less than 50 meters before the finish went Andrea Pasqualon still on and about Axel Zingle. “I was pre-designated as leader and I’m happy to have been able to show myself in that role,” said Andrea Pasqualon.
“I’ve been driving for this team for six years. Lately I’ve mainly driven for service, so I’m very happy to have been able to drive for myself again.”
“This victory is good, after a few places of honour. In the final I saw Zingle and Gilbert start. I stayed in Gilbert’s wheel and started at the right time to win.
Philippe Gilbert did not win in the end and was not completely satisfied either. “I asked my teammate Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg to launch me for the sprint. I asked three times, but he did nothing. I think it was a communication problem. Too bad, because otherwise it was a different final and I might do win.”
“I am somehow disappointed and at the same time satisfied with my condition after a hiatus (during which Gilbert got married). I am happy that I have returned to good form. I hope I can ride the Tour, but that is not in my hands.”
