Our country seems to have a new cycling gem. Judging by his performance, there is no longer any doubt about that. Maxim Van Gils put more than a cherry on the cake of his great spring on Wednesday in Eschborn-Frankfurt. The year of the breakthrough.
The first signals
Although we should immediately issue a mea culpa there. Because the performances and associated results do not just come out of the blue for Van Gils. The man who celebrated his debut with the pros in 2021 immediately achieved promising results. Confirmation followed a year later with a final victory in the Saudi Tour and two 8th places in stages in the Dauphiné and the Vuelta.
Not yet the most sensational results, but the talent was clearly budding. To what extent – or in what way – that potential would extend becomes clearer year after year. Because mea culpa, you know, last year was actually the year of the breakthrough for Van Gils. We’ll sum it up for you.
Twice fourth in a stage of the Tour of Catalonia, second in the Volta Limburg Classic, seventh in the Amstel Gold Race, eighth in the Flèche Wallonne, eleventh in Liège-Bastogne-Liège, twice fifth in Dauphiné stages and last but not least to top it off: second in the stage to the Grand Colombier in the Tour de France. Results with which Van Gils grew to a new status.
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Statute goes crescendo
However, that status has now become even greater. At the start of Strade Bianche in early March it already sounded confident: top 5 was the goal. He actually finished third, after an unapproachable Tadej Pogacar and Toms Skujins who broke away from him on the Via Santa Catarina. Other absolute stars such as Tom Pidcock, Matej Mohoric, Benoit Cosnefroy and many others arrived a minute to two minutes later.
It immediately indicated which step Van Gils had taken again. However, few had imagined that his spring would be so impressive. Although the team is not really surprised. “Based on his results last year, we knew Maxim was capable of this,” he said. He took part in fourteen competitions and finished in the top five nine times. In Milan-Sanremo this became seventh place.
Only in the Tour of Catalonia did Lotto Dstny’s rider not give up. But Van Gils managed to impress mainly in the one-day races. In the Faun Ardêche Classic and Faun Drôme Classic there was already a fifth and third place respectively, after which the podium position followed in Strade Bianche.
But he also became one of the trendsetters in the Walloon classics. Third in the Flèche Wallonne, fourth in Liège-Bastogne-Liège. In the Amstel he probably relied a little too much on Van der Poel, resulting in a 20th place.
The new Gilbert
The climax came on Wednesday in Eschborn-Frankfurt. And that is not only the case because Van Gils won the match. Of course that has a lot to do with it, but the way it was done also made the jaws of cycling enthusiasts drop open. Because it turns out that the already versatile Van Gils can also sprint casually. Thibau Nys also had no recourse against it.
He could hardly believe it himself after the finish. “Really crazy. Everything is going perfectly this year. I’m just riding around at a very high level and I’m enjoying it. Where will it end? In Frankfurt for the time being,” he said with a quip. Because he also has that: Van Gils is well liked by the public because of his you-m’en-fous attitude and dry humor – as was also noted in the cycling podcast Radio Stelvio.
A hallmark of the greats. Given his current performance and behavior off the bike, he can also be compared to (a young) Philippe Gilbert. A good pair of climber’s legs with a strong punch. But apparently also quite a strong sprint on the flat. And also a time trial in the legs. But it will become clear in the coming years exactly what kind of rider he is.
It’s also quite difficult to determine if he doesn’t even know it himself. “I don’t know anymore,” Van Gils laughed after Eschborn-Frankfurt. “Today I win a sprint, two weeks ago I was good at climbing in the Walloon classics, and I have already won a time trial this year.” The latter happened in the Ruta del Sol, where for the sake of completeness it should be added that it was a time trial of barely 4.75 kilometers. More of a prologue, you could say.
World top
In any case, we can conclude that Van Gils will belong at the absolute top of cycling after this spring. He will certainly be that if he also makes a breakthrough in the Tour de France next summer, which he says is his biggest goal of the season. The absolute top? Well, no, but only because there are some supernatural riders in the peloton in contemporary cycling.
Then we are of course talking about Pogacar, Vingegaard, Van der Poel, Van Aert, Evenepoel. He cannot be placed in that category, and probably never will be. He was able to experience this firsthand in Strade Bianche – and actually also in Liège. “After the Strade I briefly spoke with Pogacar in the tent. I was exhausted and he said he actually had an easy day. Then I said: ‘Say young man, act normal for once.’”
Since this spring, however, Van Gils’ name has been in the box below, set in stone, even if he also manages to turn France upside down. And of course they would love to see that happen at Lotto Dstny. Prices felt equally fortunate that they had already extended his contract at the beginning of March. Until 2026.
Dreamed wedding
Because he is already a world champion for them too. “If you look at the Strade of Liège, for example, you see that there was actually only one rider better: Tadej Pogacar. If you are already among the world top, it is difficult to take big steps,” says sporting director Kurt Van de Wouwer.
Moreover, there was not the slightest doubt for Van Gils that he would sign again. “Lotto-Dstny feels like a second home. I have been here for over 5 years and everyone has become like family.” That certainly seems like a dream scenario for a man with the characteristic Flemish down-to-earthness. Want to float? Under no circumstances.
“I am one of the leaders of the team, so it is normal that I achieve good results in the competitions that suit me.” Moreover, the love is mutual. “He fits in very well with the group, is always cheerful and up for a joke. It is a pleasure to have Maxim as a teammate and to work with him,” said Van de Wouwer.
