Development Jarne Van de Paar takes Belgian U23 title

The 21-year-old gives the Lotto Soudal Development Team the Belgian title.
Race 28 August 2022

Jarne Van de Paar has put the cherry on top of the cake of a great season by the Lotto Soudal Development Team. The 21-year-old rode to the Belgian U23 title in Sint-Lievens-Houtem, after bridging to the front group in the very final, which also included teammates Luca Van Boven and Vincent Van Hemelen, who played out the team tactics perfectly. Eventually, Van de Paar also finished it off in the sprint, in impressive fashion. After Florian Vermeersch in 2019, the Lotto Soudal Development Team has again a Belgian U23 champion in its squad.

“This Belgian title feels unreal”, reacts Jarne Van de Paar. “After a long period without racing due to a knee injury, I only got back to competition mid-July. To take the Belgian title only one month and a half later, is just fantastic. I came to these Belgian championships with quite some nerves, because I really had made this a goal.”

On a tough course in Sint-Lievens-Houtem, it wasn’t an easy day for the sprinters. The Lotto Soudal Development Team rode a strong race, collectively, and it was Van de Paar who bridged – together with another rider – to the very front of the race himself.

“With this performance, I show to be more than just a sprinter. It is fantastic to be part of the Lotto Soudal Development Team, because without Luca and Vincent in the front group, I could never have become Belgian champion. I am really proud of the entire team and grateful for the chances I am getting. I felt really good today and that is why I decided to bridge to the front. I had to gamble and feared that the bunch would return in the final kilometres. I knew I didn’t have to count only on my sprint that is why I also attacked but I couldn’t create a gap. Towards the sprint I had to deal with cramps but the many fans at the finish really gave me wings. I could still gear up and sprint to the Belgian title!”, concludes Jarne Van de Paar.

Image: Brecht Steenhouwer.

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