08/03/2026 - Vollezele (1.12B)

Today marked the start of a new cycling season for Gilles, who took his first steps in the U23 category. The opening race took place in the rolling landscape of Vollezele (Pajottegem), where, alongside Gilles, no fewer than 131 other riders, including Elite 2 riders (former professionals), stood at the starting line.

With his slender physique, amidst the sometimes hulking men, Gilles showed his determination. The race saw an early breakaway as early as the first nine laps. A group of nine riders managed to leave the peloton behind and remained uncaught. Gilles's goal was to get through the first half of the race feeling good, and he managed that quite well.

In the second half of the race, Gilles tried to get more involved in the race debates by participating in a number of new breakaways. However, he noticed that he was consistently two to three riders too far back in the peloton, which frustrated him slightly. Despite these challenges, he managed to hold his own in the peloton.

A constant area for improvement for Gilles remains sprinting, which is still not one of his strong points. After a challenging 116-kilometer race, with an average speed of nearly 45 km/h, he finished in 60th place.

The conclusion of his first competition is positive; Gilles has demonstrated perseverance and is clearly ready for the challenges the upcoming season brings. Maintaining his motivation and striving for improvement, Gilles stands ready to further develop himself in this new category.