Stijn Devolder is relieved that he performed well in Sunday’s Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne and that his off-day in Saturday’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad was just a fluke. He was much more relaxed on Sunday evening than 24 hours prior. While he didn’t finish Sunday’s race, this was due to a crash.
Saturday’s result – place 131 and over 13 minutes down on winner Bobbie Traksel – left its mark. “I will admit: I was not very confident on the Kuurne start line on Sunday,” Devolder told Het Nieuwsblad. “But I found my good legs again. We were not riding hard over La Houppe. I was in first position when a compost bin flew in my front wheel.”
The culprit was quickly disposed in somebody’s front yard by the staff (it was unclear if it was the right yard). Devolder’s day was over. “I couldn’t move. What a shame. I banged the inside of my knee pretty badly.”
The physical pain was squashed by the relief that Devolder’s preparation is still on target for his attempt at a Ronde van Vlaanderen. “I am happy that the Omloop is just a bad memory. I don’t know what was going on. I knew soon that I wasn’t going as well as Flecha, but I had expected that I could ride with the other top guys.”
Devolder wasn’t even put off Sunday by storm Xynthia. “I enjoyed the weather. I would love to have more like that – it will be a weekend that I’ll remember.” Devolder added that for his girlfriend it was a weekend to forget. “Not so! On to Tirreno-Adriatico, where I want to test myself one day in preparation for the big classics,” said Devolder. “Above all, there is no talk of panic.”