Race of the grapes – Louvel: “Winning in Belgium, something strong”
This victory, Matis Louvel will remember it for a very long time! Confirming his great potential, the 23-year-old Norman won this Wednesday the Course of raisinsa very demanding race and on which there was a very tough field, with in particular the presence of Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Materials). But it is indeed the runner of the Team Arkea-Samsic who raised his arms in Overijse, after breaking out of a group of five to 5 kilometers from the finish. On the site of his team, the one who won ahead Arnaud Demare (Groupama-FDJ) and Dries Van Gestel (Team TotalEnergies) came back at length on its superb success.
Video – Matis Louvel offered the 2022 Raisin Race
“I decided to try my luck because in the sprint I couldn’t compete”
“I had a bit of pressure on my shoulders because I was the designated leader of the team. was supposed to catch me today (Wednesday) […] We go out at 5, and I didn’t panic. I passed my relays without putting everything I had. We still had a 20 second lead at the foot of the last mountain, and I decided to try my luck because in the sprint I couldn’t compete. I knew that I had very good legs, I climbed the cobblestone mountain in the lead. I made the difference, and then I did an individual time to the line“, explains the 17th of the Tour of Flanders and 15th of Paris-Roubaix this season. He then described the scope and significance of this victory.
🆠@LouvelMatis pic.twitter.com/X05TTQnvXW
— Arkéa Samsic team (@Arkea_Samsic) August 24, 2022
“I think the Tour gave me strength”
“This first success in Belgium is important, I won in 2021 (the Tour of Castile and Leonsdlr), but this does not have the same value, even if the two courses are of the same classification. Here, given the number of entries, it was almost ProSerie. Winning in Belgium, land of cycling, is also something strong. This country is a land of cycling, it has more flavor. I think the Tour gave me strength, if I can ride like that in the final, it’s thanks to this event. The Tour was especially useful for the last solo raid which allowed me to seal this success”finished Matis Louvel.
“𠑮�’��’��’��’��’� �’��’� 𒠩�’��’��’��’��”�’��’�, �’� ½’�’��’��’� �’��’��’��’�!”
Our young rider looks back on his first victory of the season 💇https://t.co/8SUaKw33gx pic.twitter.com/eydeBznHP7
— Arkéa Samsic team (@Arkea_Samsic) August 24, 2022