Development Fourth place for Solen in opening stage of Tour de Bretagne

On a day marked by aggressive racing and constant movement, the team showed its intent to be present at the front. An early breakaway of around 30 riders forced our team onto the back foot, with only Victor Van de Putte making it into the move. Despite the imbalance, the team remained composed and committed to bringing the race back together.

As the finale approached, the peloton reeled in the breakaway, setting up a tense and chaotic fight for position in the closing kilometers. Solen, navigating the intensity largely on his own, managed to stay in contention and deliver a strong sprint, just missing out on a podium finish.

Reflecting on the stage, Solen said: "We made quite a good start. A big group of about 30 riders escaped with only Victor (Van de Putte) representing our team, which was not ideal. With 5 kilometers to go, the break away got caught and we couldn’t really find each other in the chaos so I had to move along by myself. Because of that I just missed out on the podium. But in general we made a great start as a team. Hopefully we will find each other the upcoming days but we are ready for it!"

With a solid result already on the board, Lotto-Groupe Wanty heads into the next stages with confidence.

Photo: Milan Berckmoes