Gerts: “This week I said to myself that I have to give it everything”
02 April 2016, Eijsden (NED)
Floris Gerts stormed home to take his first win as a professional at Volta Limburg Classic today, in what was a race controlled by BMC Racing Team. Philippe Gilbert crossed the line in third place to replicate BMC Racing Team’s first and third podium places from 2015. We had a chat to Floris after his win to find out just how much it means to him.
You’ve taken your first victory as a professional cyclist on home soil. It probably doesn’t get any better than that?
“No it is exactly how you put it. For me it feels like my home ride and I train a lot in this area. Although I haven’t trained here in the last six months, I know all of the road and exactly where and what was coming. I was actually looking forward to this race all year and this week I said to myself that I have to give it everything. I didn’t want any regrets after the race. It was really a team effort.”
Talk us through the day for you.
“There wasn’t really much wind. We just made sure that we were riding up the front and didn’t have to chase two big groups. There was a breakaway and Tom Bohli and Manuel Senni did a great job controlling the group and this was really important. After they did this, we could race with the really strong efforts of Dylan Teuns and Loic Vliegen in the front group. They made the race really hard and after this, I decided to attack because I felt really strong. I went with Rick Zabel and from that moment I gave it everything. I was feeling so sick on the bike and then Philippe Gilbert, Loic and Dylan came to the front and then it was an unbelievably good situation. In the last kilometer Philippe pushed me a little so I attacked again. The other guys behind me weren’t really chasing but I don’t really know what happened behind me. I kept going and I got to the finish line. It felt like all of the other riders deserved the win just as much, so it really was a team effort. I cannot describe it better than that.”
You were racing in Holland for the first time this year. How much more special did that make it?
“My grandfather was there to see me race which was really special because he is getting old. I don’t know if he saw everything but it was really special that my two brothers and my parents came with my grandfather to watch the race. For them it is also home as my grandfather comes from here and my mother also.”
You’ve had a few races back since your crash at Le Samyn and today really shows that you’ve recovered. How confident are you going into your next races?
“I just wanted to give the race today everything I had. Winning is unbelievable but I also got a lot of confidence out of some other races like E3 Harelbeke, so I’m looking forward to the next races.”
Volta Limburg Classic (1.1)
Eijsden ‘ Eijsden (198.6k)
Floris Gerts (NED) – 1st
Philippe Gilbert (BEL) – 3rd
Rick Zabel (GER) – 4th
Loic Vliegen (BEL) – 9th
Dylan Teuns – 10th
