This year's Tour of Flanders may have had the most predictable of winners, but by his own admission, the rider who took the runner-up's spot, Luca Mozzato (Arkea-B&B Hotels) was in no way anticipating his own dramatically successful race.
“It’s a result that exceeds my expectations," said Mozzato in a team statement. "If someone had said to me this morning, ‘you’re going to be in the top 20’, I’d have been happy, and ‘in the top 10’ I’d have signed up straight away. But on the podium…"
The 26 year old headed toward Oudenaarde with a group of eight that swept up the break of Dylan Teuns (Israel-Premier Tech) and Alberto Bettiol (EF Education at the last moment. Michael Matthews (Jayco-AlUla), who was later relegated to 11th, launched the sprint but Mozzato jumped from behind the Australian to cross the line just ahead to claim second.
