ProTeam Jarne Van de Paar wins GP Monseré

“Coming straight from the UAE Tour, this was quite a shock,” a delighted Van de Paar says. Indeed, the weather did not cooperate at the start of the GP Monseré in Ichtegem. Once again, riders faced a soggy race. However, these conditions didn’t scared the young Lotto Dstny rider. “Despite the drastic change from the Emirates, these are conditions I like. I saw everyone around me shivering from the cold, but I managed to keep myself warm all day. It was only when I took off my jacket in the final lap that I felt how cold it was. But then, the good legs took over. I really had a very good day.”

After starting in Ichtegem, the peloton completed three local laps towards Roeselare, tackling the climbs of Hoogledeberg, Ruidenbergstraat, Lookhuisstraat, and the cobbles of Gitsberg. Attempts to escape were unsuccessful. “As a team, we managed to stay attentive throughout the race. We positioned ourselves well and stayed focused at the front, especially towards the climbs.”

Ultimately, the GP Monseré concluded with a mass sprint, where Jarne Van de Paar had the most left in the tank. “I’m always afraid of losing, but everyone tells me to believe in myself, and the team had chosen me as their sprinter today. Timothy Dupont and David Dekker were strong contenders, but I couldn’t have asked for a better lead-out. It’s a shame that Jacopo Guarnieri had gear problems. Joshua Giddings and Lionel Taminiaux did excellent work. I am extremely happy with this victory.”

The rain-drenched edition of the GP Monseré also saw its casualties. Milan Menten collided with a tree, losing consciousness momentarily. He was taken to the hospital and diagnosed with a minor concussion. Fortunately, further examinations revealed no fractures.

Pictures: PhotoNews