This Thursday, Andrea Pasqualon obtained the tenth succes of Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux by winning Circuit de Wallonie (1.1) with a powerful sprint, concluding a new exemplary collective performance.
The World Team took its responsibilities on home soil, on a parcours which crossed Binche before reaching the local circuit in the neighborhood of Charleroi. The team chased the early breakaway and stayed in front of the peloton, avoiding trouble in the crosswinds halfway through the race.
On the selective local circuit, which had to be covered three times, a peloton of only 50 riders headed towards the finish in Mont-sur-Marchienne. Pasqualon was launched by five teammates towards the final 1000 meter.
The Italian rider first left Philippe Gilbert behind, and then Axel Zingle in the final 50 meter to obtain his first victory in three years, or his seventh in the colors of the Walloon team.
« My last victory was three years ago already, that's why this win feels so good! Sacrificing for my teammates gives me a lot of satisfaction, but I was also very hungry for a victory myself. Today was a perfect opportunity, as the course suited me really well and passed in front of so many partners of the team. It was like a home race for us. So this victory is not only important for myself, but also for everyone involved in Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux. I am part of this family for six years already, I want to thank Jean-François Bourlart and all partners for their confidence. » « Also my teammates believed in my chances and helped me a lot today. First, in the nervous beginning with crosswinds after Binche and then in the hilly final. They brought me to an excellent position in the final kilometers, so I could react to the attack of Axel Zingle. I felt that it was the right moment and I followed the slipstream of Philippe Gilbert. Zingle was my target and thanks to a perfect timing, I managed to pass him in the final meters. It was a fantastic moment. » « After a couple of classics and the recon of the cobble stage of the next Tour de France, I will continue the altitude camp I started last month with the team in Andorra to prepare my next goals. Collectively we're particularly strong during this period of the year and I follow the performances of my teammates in the Tour of Italy very closely. I'm very happy that we can add this new victory to our succes. »
