"I’m absolutely delighted with this. It’s been a while since I last won a race, so finally managing to do so feels really good", Hagenes stammered afterwards. "Things are going really well this season. I’ve managed to maintain a high level throughout the spring, but it hadn’t resulted in a win yet. These kinds of races suit me well and I’m glad I was able to finish it off today."

With a course full of cobbles and unpaved sections, the conditions were ideal for an open and exciting race. Team Visma | Lease a Bike entered the race with a mix of experienced riders and young talents and were on the mark all day. With forty kilometers to go, a group of nine broke away from the peloton. Hagenes was alert and joined the leading group.

The nine leaders worked well together and managed to build up a comfortable lead. Hagenes felt strong and decided to make his first move with thirteen kilometers to go. His attack came to nothing, but that didn’t stop him from trying again. In the final kilometre, he stirred things up once more, and this time his move proved successful.

With a powerful acceleration, he immediately opened up a gap and secured his team’s twentieth victory of the season. "It was a really great day", the Norwegian continues. "I started attacking early on because I felt I had good legs. Some of my fellow escapees weren’t too pleased about that, but I felt I had to give it a go. In the final kilometre, I was perfectly positioned and rode as hard as I could to the line. Luckily, I managed to hold on."

Sports director Maarten Wynants is proud of the way Hagenes secured the victory. "Per handled it very maturely. The final eight kilometres were on wide roads, which made it a bit of a gamble. From the moment he opened a gap, I knew no one would be able to close it. He did very well."

According to Wynants, he more than deserves it. "This is confirmation of what he showed in the spring. We all know how strong he is, but now it’s really all coming together at the highest level", said the Belgian, who also praised the rest of the team. "Everyone has played their part. We drew up a plan together and the lads executed it brilliantly. That’s what I love about this victory."