Published on : 08/20/2026
The Belgian campaign continued on Thursday at the Grand Prix Lucien Van Impe. On a 140.1-kilometre course around Erpe-Mere, marked by rain and crosswinds, Valentine Fortin took 13th place in a bunch sprint.
After a long loop towards Flobecq, the peloton headed back to Erpe-Mere for five laps of a 12.5-kilometre local circuit.
The rain made the race more difficult and, with around 70 kilometres to go, the peloton split into two groups in the crosswinds. Spela Kern was in the first group, while the rest of the team found themselves in the second. Two riders also went clear at the front and held a lead of almost one minute with 50 kilometres remaining.
The team eventually managed to rejoin the first peloton in the final, while Martina Alzini was delayed by a puncture. The two breakaway riders were eventually caught and the race came down to a bunch sprint in Erpe-Mere, where Valentine Fortin took 13th place.
Reaction:
Arthur Quilliec, Sports Director :
“We struggled in the section where there was a lot of rain and crosswinds, and we found ourselves in the second group. We still managed to get back into the first group in the final, and Valentine Fortin took 13th place. We also lost Martina Alzini due to a puncture. It’s not enough. We have to be capable of doing better in a race at this level.”