The Belgian earned the 30th podium of the World Team in 2022.
Two weeks after taking his first professional victory in the Quatre Jours de Dunkerque, Gerben Thijssen finished second in the Veenendaal-Veenendaal Classic (1.1) and thus secured the 30th podium of the World Team in 2022.
A classic scenario unfolded on the 196-kilometre course as an early breakaway of five riders was caught and was followed by the preparation for a bunch sprint.
Thijssen’s teammates put in an impressive performance in the final kilometer, allowing the young sprinter to enter the final corner in second position, in the slipstream of his lead-out man Boy van Poppel.
His powerful effort was rewarded with second place behind Dylan Groenewegen. It is the fourth time that Thijssen has finished on the podium this season.
« I’m satisfied with my second place behind a champion such as Dylan Groenewegen. My teammates did a perfect lead out, but he was just faster. With 1 kilometer to go I still has three teammates in front of me and just like I asked them before the race, Boy van Poppel made sure that I was in second position in the last corner. It had goosebumps when I saw how my teammates were giving all they had for me. This makes me so proud, it’s just a dream to be part of this team. The last two years I felt like I could never really go all out, this makes me so emotional. »
