After the end line of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, deafening cheers and applause might be heard from the interior of the Groupama-FDJ staff bus, however quite than celebrating the victory on Belgian soil, the staff had been celebrating the win of Romain Grégoire within the Faun Ardèche Vintage at the different aspect of France.
The French squad can have been celebrating a double victory, had Stefan Küng’s courageous overdue breakaway try to defy the overriding narrative of the 2025 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad succeeded.
As an alternative, the Swiss time trial and Classics big name was once reeled in two kilometres from the road and what became out to be the only severe strive by means of a rider to defy the headwind and the overpowering probability of a number dash was once foiled.
“The course was a kilometre too long, unfortunately,” Küng instructed newshounds afterwards, “but I had to try.”
“I was alone and attacking like that was always a gamble, but I was where I wanted to be, trying to go for the win.”
“I gave it everything, and it didn’t work out, but I gave it everything and that’s how I want to race throughout the Classics.”
Küng paid tribute to his staff for his or her make stronger, announcing that they had stored him completely positioned and the place he had to be to check out and disappointed the sprinters’ masterplan on the closing second.
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“I’m happy and proud with my teammates. We stayed calm because we knew it would play out after the Molenberg and that gave me the chance to attack and go all out.”
Taking a look forward, he stated, even though it hadn’t labored out, making his transfer towards the entire odds had given him an actual self belief spice up for the impending Classics. As Küng stated right through the Volta ao Algarve, he had modified his coaching program over the wintry weather and he had come into Omloop in search of affirmation of his situation. And after his robust assault 8 kilometres from the road in Ninove, Küng definitely discovered it.
