Belgian all-arounder took a stellar 3rd place in opening field sprint
Three weeks ago, Vacansoleil’s Björn Leukemans took a look at why the big Classics win has eluded him so far in his career in a conversation with Cyclism’Actu. The Belgian is without question one of the world’s top riders over the cobbles with a 4th at the Tour of Flanders and a 6th at Paris-Roubaix pleading his case quite effectively.
When he pondered what exactly has been missing, he pointed to a little bit of missing luck and a weakness in the sprints.
“I think I lack a bit of luck. I have often been present, but could not make anything of it yet. I also think it is necessary that I get better and faster in the sprints.”
There’s not much a rider can do about their luck except hope for better, but sprinting, though certainly a skill that you either have or don’t, is still something that can be focused upon and improved.
Leukemans hasn’t been sitting idly at home dreaming about winning though – following his 3rd place in the bunch sprint finish on Wednesday in the first stage of the Etoile de Besseges, it’s clear that the Vacansoleil rider has been doing his homework over the winter.
Vacansoleil team manager, Hilaire Van Der Schueren, was pleased with not only his team but Leukemans’s efforts on the day.
“We have really put in a good performance today – we were in each group. Finally, Leukemans has shown that his sprint training is paying off,” said Van Der Schueren to Radsportnews.com.
Sure, Leukemans wasn’t sprinting against the world’s best in Bellegarde Wednesday afternoon, but a field sprint is never an easy place to pull off a result if you’re not one of the lucky few in the world to be classified as sprinters.
If Leukemans can continue to mix it up in the races in the sprints and push forward with his sprint training outside of the races, there’s little doubt that he’ll be looking at some better opportunities in the finales of the Spring Classics in March and April.