Bart Wellens (Fidea) made a successful return yesterday in Koksijde, Belgium during the fourth World Cup after cytomegalovirus forced him out of competition for several months. “This leaves me with a satisfied feeling,” he told Sporza.
The former World Champion finished a respectable thirteenth despite his start place at the tail end of the group. For Wellens, everything was new, “I felt like a junior.” he said, “What to put in my pocket, when I had to eat…those types of things. It is indeed fun to be back.”
Wellens hopes to be on top of his game within a month, perfect timing if he hopes to go for another world title. “Either way this was the best training of the past weeks. I was still the best of my group, but not yet strong enough to make the differences. In the sprint only Chainel was faster, which leaves me satisfied after finishing in top-15 like I had hoped. Starting now I will look forward, step by step. I hope to be able to compete for the win in a month,” he concluded.