Development Mathias De Keersmaeker sprints to the win in stage 2 of Tour du Loir-et-Cher.

From the start, our riders stayed attentive and active in a fast and nervous peloton. Thanks to a collective effort and sharp race reading, Mathias De Keersmaeker managed to enter the final phase in ideal circumstances despite a crash involving Victor Van de Putte in the final ten kilometers.

Thanks to an impressive lead-out from team mate Keije Solen, Mathias launched the decisive attack that no one could follow. He managed to maintain his advantage all the way to the finish line, sealing a well-deserved victory for the Lotto-Groupe Wanty Development team.

After the finish, De Keersmaeker said: “Since we didn’t manage to get a good sprint yesterday, we were extra motivated to make it work today. As a team, we were always positioned at the front at crucial moments. Keije (Solen) delivered an incredibly strong lead-out, which allowed me to launch my sprint at the perfect moment and take my first victory in the U23 category, as well as for Lotto-Groupe Wanty. This win means a lot to me because in recent weeks I haven’t been riding with my best legs, so I hope this allows me to put that period behind me.”

Picture: Milan Berckmoes