Guangxi S5: Lennert Van Eetvelt Clinches Queen Stage Victory
On October 19, 2024, the Guangxi International Road Cycling World Tour (2024 Guangxi Tour) held its fifth stage, where 23-year-old Lennert Van Eetvelt from Lotto Soudal showcased his impressive skills to win the stage atop the mountain.
Race Overview
The fifth stage began in the central square of Hechi's Yizhou District and concluded at the Nongla Scenic Area in Nanning. The stage covered a distance of 165.8 kilometers, featuring two intermediate sprint points at 60.7 kilometers and 142.1 kilometers. The first 110 kilometers were relatively flat, but a challenging 5.9-kilometer climb (Category 3) began at 117.1 kilometers, with an average gradient of 5.5%. The most demanding part of the race was the final 1.2 kilometers, where the gradient reached an astonishing 14.8%.
The race ceremony kicked off at 10:40 AM, attended by numerous dignitaries and guests, marking the start of this exciting stage.
Race Highlights
Early in the race, a breakaway group formed, consisting of Koen Bouwman, Warre Vangheluwe, Stefan Bissegger, and Jonas Rutsch. They managed to establish a lead of about three and a half minutes. However, as the race progressed, the main pack accelerated their pursuit, gradually closing the gap. As they approached the steep climbs, the breakaway riders began to tire and were eventually caught.
With 1.8 kilometers to go, Tim Wellens from UAE Team Emirates launched an attack, followed closely by Victor Lafay, who started to gain ground. In the last 120 meters, Lotto's Lennert Van Eetvelt surged ahead, overtaking Wellens just before the finish line, celebrating a hard-earned victory.
Post-Race Developments
After the stage, Van Eetvelt donned the red jersey, symbolizing the overall leader, and also earned the white jersey for the best young rider. Ethan Vernon from Israel-Premier Tech retained the blue jersey for the sprint leader, while Pepijn Reinderink from Soudal-Quick-Step held onto the polka dot jersey for the climbing leader.
The next stage will be the final leg: the Nanning City Stage, covering 134.3 kilometers, where cyclists will tackle steep hills on Qingxiu Mountain, presenting yet another challenging test of their endurance.
The thrilling performances of the 2024 Guangxi Tour leave us eager to see who will ultimately stand on the highest podium. Stay tuned!