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Gent-Wevelgem: Successful season start for Team Auto Eder

Gent-Wevelgem U19 Podium 2023

Danish rider Theodor Clemmensen finishes second in the Belgian spring classic Gent-Wevelgem.

Moody weather, strong wind and cobblestone passages – Gent-Wevelgem is not without reason one of the more difficult one-day races in the U19 racing calendar. For Team Auto Eder, the spring classic held on Sunday marked the official start of the new racing season – a start for which the Bavarian team had planned a lot. 

A total of 25 teams, including the best U19 teams in Europe and several national teams, entered the 133.2-kilometre race. Cold temperatures, wet conditions and wind made for a selective race, with Team Auto Eder convincing from the start with an offensive driving style by reducing the field through several attacks in crosswinds. 

In the further course of the race, two escapees dominated the race. However, Auto Eder rider Theodor Clemmensen was able to establish himself in the chasing group behind them. In the final, the young Dane proved to be the strongest rider of the peloton and contributed significantly to the chasing group catching up with the leaders a few kilometres before the finish.

The decision about the victory was made three kilometres before the finish: The eventual winner Steffen De Schuyteneer (Belgium) took advantage of an unclear routing in a roundabout and pulled away from Clemmensen and the only other remaining leader, the Belgian Sente Sentjens. Clemmensen, secured second place behind and thus claimed the first podium finish for Team Auto Eder in the first race.

The next event for the junior team of WorldTeam BORA - hansgrohe is the International Cottbus Junior Stage Ride from 31st of March to 2nd of April. Afterwards, the famous spring classic Paris-Roubaix is on the programme (9th of April).

 

Result

1          DE SCHUYTENEER Steffen             3:10:44

2          CLEMMENSEN Theodor                   + 0:20

3          SENTJENS Sente                              + 0:25

4          VANEECKHOUTE Victor                   + 0:55

5          SMITHSON Jed                                 + 1:09

 

Quotes

"The weather made it really difficult. It rained a lot all day and was very cold. I still felt very good and was maybe even the strongest rider of the race. Unfortunately, the unclear routing in the final ruined my chances of winning. Nevertheless, I am happy with the result and look forward to the next races." – Theodor Clemmensen

 

"Our plan was to go offensively from the start to control the race. Once apart from the unfortunate final it was a really good race for the team and we showed that even with the new squad we can be among the world's best." – Dr Christian Schrot, Sporting Director