Matisse Van Kerckhove has won the third stage of the Flèche du Sud in impressive fashion. The young Belgian rider from Team Visma | Lease a Bike proved to be the strongest after a tough and selective stage, securing another victory for the team in Luxembourg.
The queen stage of the race featured plenty of climbing and turned into a hard day from the very start. Team Visma | Lease a Bike took control early on and kept the breakaway firmly in check throughout the stage. The escapees were never given much room, as the peloton maintained a high pace from early on.
That aggressive approach quickly thinned out the peloton. Eventually, a reduced group of around forty riders remained, including five riders from Team Visma | Lease a Bike.
Matthew Brennan had already indicated before the stage that the climb might be too tough for him, but he fully committed to the team effort. The British rider played an important role in the selection and delivered strong work in support of his teammates.
Heading into the finishing circuit, Team Visma | Lease a Bike entered the finale with three riders and used their numerical advantage perfectly. First, Anton Schiffer launched a hard attack, but he was brought back by the chasing group and ultimately finished fourth. Shortly after, it was Van Kerckhove’s turn, and he immediately opened a gap, holding his effort all the way to the finish for a well-earned victory.
After the finish, Matisse Van Kerckhove said: “My first professional win, this is really amazing. I had really strong legs today.”
There was also satisfaction within the team regarding the way the young riders seized their opportunity. Sports director Gaëtan Pons said: “We came to Luxembourg to give the young riders a chance to fight for a win or race a final. When we see them take that opportunity and deliver, it’s great to see. Especially with Matisse in such a hard stage, it’s very promising. He is the future of the team.”
Gaëtan Pons also highlighted Van Kerckhove’s development: “Today is once again a confirmation that Matisse is ready to make the step up to the pro team.” The Belgian will join the Team Visma | Lease a Bike WorldTour squad in 2027.
Thanks to his strong performance, Matisse Van Kerckhove now also leads the general classification and the young rider classification, while Matthew Brennan leads the points classification.
The final stage of the Flèche du Sud will be another demanding one, with continuous short climbs and strong winds expected, making for a nervous and selective race finale. Team Visma | Lease a Bike will focus on defending the leader’s jersey.
(SOURCE, PHOTO: Press Office Team Visma | Lease a Bike)
