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Great ride from Maxim Van Gils takes him to a 7th place at La Primavera

Milano Sanremo is known as one of the longest races of the year, but as almost every season, it was on the Poggio where the race exploded. Attacking twice, Tadej Pogacar was able to create a gap and after a chase in the descent, Maxim Van Gils was able to join the leading group for the final kilometers.
Race Team 16 March 2024
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"My descent from the Poggio didn't go as planned. At one point, my wheel slipped a bit. I almost fell in one of the hairpin turns and got a little bit scared. I had to tackle the descent of the Poggio with that fear. As a result, I found myself trailing at the back of the leading group and always remained about ten meters behind. I could never fully catch up, and unfortunately, I spilled too much energy."

Arriving at the finish with the leading group of 12 riders, a 7th place was the maximum for Maxim Van Gils after the fastest La Primavera in history. “I did my best. In a peloton full of climbers, I can hold a good sprint, but here, there were still Philipsen, Pedersen, and Matthews... this was against sprinters, so I can't blame myself here."

Today’s result is the fifth top ten spot for Maxim Van Gils in five races in 2024 so far, making it a very strong start of the season for the young Belgian rider. After the finish, Maxim was satisfied with his result and was happy he could ride a strong performance built on strong teamwork. "We raced attentively as a team, which was beautiful to see. Personally, I feel that I have taken another step forward. The team believes in me, and it's nice to confirm that trust."

Picture: PhotoNews