Oier Lazkano‘s star retains on rising. The tall Basque rider is a rarity amongst riders hailing from the Iberian Peninsula, excelling within the harsh cobbled and gravel roads of the spring relatively than the sharp mountains that pepper his nation and the route of its nationwide tour.
Having risen to prominence final March with a bruising, day-long, journey from the breakaway to take second at Dwars door Vlaanderen, he is again in Belgium this spring to tackle the Flemish cobbles as soon as extra.
Having already gained on the gravel roads of the Clásica Jaén two weekends in the past, he was again on the rostrum once more on Sunday, scoring third place on his profession debut at Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne.
The 24-year-old, racing within the colors of Spanish champion, was a part of the successful transfer that went clear 87km from the road, going to the road with eventual winner and pre-race favorite Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease A Bike) and one other skilled Belgian in Tim Wellens (UAE Crew Emirates) after a tough, chilly day within the saddle.
“You at all times wish to win, however I am glad,” Lazkano mentioned after taking to the rostrum for the second time in his cobbled Classics profession. “They pushed me actually laborious, and I gave all the things I had. It is a kind of races that you just at all times sit up for watching on tv, and it is good to be racing right here once more.
“I attempted to go for the win, however Wout and Tim had been very sturdy. They saved on accelerating. It was additionally unlikely for me to be our entrance with these champions – usually, you solely see them on the TV!” he added with fairly some modesty.
Lazkano, whose subsequent appointment needs to be the Race to the Solar of Paris-Good earlier than heading again north to the grim climes of the cobbles, turned the primary Spaniard to step on the rostrum in 76 editions of Kuurne.
He mentioned later that he is at all times wished to race in Flanders, including that each one he was lacking on the day had been the legs to problem the 2 Belgians within the closing dash.
“I’ve at all times wished to race right here,” he mentioned. “These are races during which each step and each combat for place is difficult, and to see myself up right here is thrilling. It is actually a day to get pleasure from.
“I could not not collaborate within the relays with Van Aert and Wellens as a result of if I did not go by, it was clear that the assaults would begin and it could be worse for me. We needed to attempt to take the breakaway to the tip after which play our playing cards within the final half. I simply did not have the legs, that is all.”
Flandrian ex-racer Jürgen Roelandts, who closed out his profession with Movistar earlier than taking over a directeur sportif function on the workforce post-retirement, was within the automobile behind Lazkano this weekend.
With podiums on the Tour of Flanders and E3 Saxo Basic on his palmarès, the 38-year-old is a perfect option to assist Lazkano as he seeks related successes.
“He helped me rather a lot from the automobile. Along with his expertise and the outcomes he is achieved, he is somebody to respect, and he is aware of all the things. It is like being a bit nearer to residence together with his data and the encouragement he provides you.”
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