Visma | Lease a Bike, with Neilson Powless leading the charge, dominated Dwars door Vlaanderen, but the battle for the remaining top spots was just as intriguing. One standout performer was Tibor del Grosso, the rising star from Volta a Catalunya. In the absence of Mathieu van der Poel, the 21-year-old held his own among the elite, finishing an impressive sixth.
“That’s certainly not bad,” Del Grosso told ‘WielerFlits’ afterward. However, he admitted that positioning cost him a better result. “I was too far forward at Berg ten Houte when Visma | Lease a Bike ramped up the pace, stretching the peloton to its limits. I ended up on the wrong side of the gaps. I wasn’t entirely caught off guard I knew they would make it tough but I didn’t expect so many riders to be dropped. That created splits that were nearly impossible to close.”
Del Grosso was one of the most active chasers behind the leading quartet. “I thought we had a chance to bridge back, but Van Baarle rode very defensively, and we just couldn’t make it happen. After that, I knew it was over. It never fully came together, but with our group of six, I still hoped we could make a final push. Unfortunately, the pace wasn’t high enough. I tried attacking, and a few riders followed, but it wasn’t enough.”
Following his impressive showing at Volta a Catalunya, the U23 cyclocross world champion continues to prove his road racing potential. “This result means a lot, especially since I was sick and had to abandon Catalunya before the final stage. I had some doubts, but now I can put them aside,” he said.
As for his future, Del Grosso remains cautious: “We’ll see what happens.” However, Dutch fans will be watching closely, hoping he could one day follow in the footsteps of Mathieu van der Poel both on the road and in cyclocross.
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