Felix Orn-Kristoff was hot, the Wanty-Nippo-Reuz folded but they did not break in the last stage of the Tour de Bretagne. Already the night went wrong. “”I didn’t sleep well, I was wondering what I had to do, I was stressed“. Despite the fall of Tobias Müller, an important map in the fortress of the Belgian team, and the difficulties of the green jersey with white scarf in the green valley and in the coast of Jugon-les-Lacs,”I thought my race was finished“, He admits, the 18-year-old Norwegian scored his name at the Tour de Bretagne’s record (See rankings). “This step was madness. We went through all the emotions. I thought at a time that it was lost“, Comments the sports director, Kévin Van Melsen, at Directive. “We owe nothing to anyone, this victory we owe it only to us“.
“When Savino attacked I was afraid”
After the alert in the bumps, “I have to improve in the steep ribs“, Recognizes the runner, the leader restores the situation.”We returned and thanks to my mattress in advance, I only had to finish with the peloton to win the general classification but it was quite disjointed in the final but everything gathered“. But on the Plancoët circuit, the winner of the Landévant stage must face a new alert. Federico Savino (Sudal Quick-Step), General’s 4th” leaps and joins the leading group. “”When Savino attacked, I was afraidindicates Felix Orn-Kristoff. I was tired but everyone was. They did not dug a lot of gap and I asked Victor (Hannes) to give a last collar. I jumped into the coloquick and söderqvist wheel which came out of the peloton“.
This behavior of the European junior champion amazes its sports director. “”He has already demonstrated great things. He has shown a lot of lucidity. It’s incredible at his age. He’s a big champion in the making“. Kévin Van Melsen highlights the body of his runners since the takeover in the 4th stage.”We were not spared by bad luck and checked over three or four days. It shows that we have a very solid collective. For me, it was something very important, last year we had a collective that was not always at the top. It was a speech that I had at the start of the year at the first internship. I found it in this team spirit. Today, we have shown it“The winner underlines the role of Victor Hannes this Thursday.”Victor was super strong, he always accompanied me in the final“. He tasted the privilege of shopping leaders in stages.”With the heat, they brought me ice, gave me their last cans“.
Next objective: Gand-Wevelgem
On Hirel’s presentation podium, before the start of the first step, Felix Orn-Kristoff came “Without waiting. I did not think of the general, maybe the podium, I was targeting a step more, he admits. So win the general and a step, I’m super happy“. If last year Wouter Toussaint won the Ardennes triptych, at the national level, this Tour de Bretagne is the first general classification at level 2.2 for the Intermarché-Wanty reserve.”It will put the team on the railsprovides for the sports director. There are lots of very beautiful races that will happen. And that promises us beautiful things for the whole second part of the season“.
Before the Giro Espoirs and the Alsace Tour, cut for climbers, the team’s rollers will have an appointment at the Kattekoers, Gand-Wevelgem Espoirs (May 11), won by Huub Artz on behalf of the team last year. The winner of the Tour de Bretagne will be at the start. “”It is something that can suit him. He is already motivatedNote Kévin Van Melsen. We have other cards too. It’s not just him. We also have Tobias (Müller), Halvor (Dolven). It is clear that we will go there with big goals“. Felix Orn-Kristoff likes Flandrians routes,”If I avoid being badly placed, I am rather strong on the cobblestones“. We haven’t finished hearing about the Norwegian.
