Only two days after his fifth place in the Famenne Ardenne Classic, Hugo Page offered Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux a podium this Tuesday in Binche-Chimay Binche, a race close to the heart of the World Team and its partners.
The team of Jean-François Bourlart took its responsibility behind the early breakaway with Kévin Van Melsen in the lead of the peloton, working for his leaders of Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux for the last time in fourteen seasons.
The work of Van Melsen first made it possible to catch the early breakaway, then the efforts of Sven Erik Bystrøm, Dimitri Claeys and Biniam Girmay neutralized a dangerous counterattack of around twenty riders with 25 kilometer to go. Taco Van der Hoorn took over the control in the peloton until Frenchman Hugo Page joined the decisive attack of ten riders.
Eight seconds behind Laporte and Tiller the young Frenchman finished third, achieving his first podium in the pro ranks. Kévin Van Melsen crossed the finish line for the last time as a professional bike rider, welcomed by his nearest, before starting a new chapter in the lead of the Continental Development team.
« Obtaining my first podium in the pro ranks on the soil of our sponsors and on the occasion of the farewell race of Kévin Van Melsen makes it even more beautiful. This third place was probably the best possible result today, because I didn't have the legs to follow the attack of Laporte and Tiller after all my efforts on the circuit in Binche. My form is good, after my fifth place last Sunday I finished third today. I will conclude my season with Paris-Bourges and Paris-Tours, two races in which we will give everything we have to take our 25th victory of the season! »
