Lampaert: People expect more of me now
In a team of Tom Boonens, Niki Terpstras, and Philippe Gilberts, it can be hard for a younger, quieter rider to stand out. Yet Yves Lampaert has grown in stature in the past two years and now emerges as perhaps Deceuninck-QuickStep's principal threat in the Classics.
Lampaert, a thoroughbred West-Flandrien from a farming family in Izegem, joined QuickStep in 2015 after treading the well-worn path through the Topsport set-up. He finished in the top 10 in his first Paris-Roubaix for QuickStep, although 2016 was something of a waste as he was forced out of the whole spring campaign with an Achilles injury.
2017, however, proved a breakthrough year as he won Dwars door Vlaanderen after forging clear with Gilbert in a late three-man move. After winning a stage at the Vuelta a España later in the year, Lampaert returned to the Classics in 2018 and played a more prominent role. He went back and won Dwars - this time without a teammate to profit from in the decisive selection - and also spent a memorable day off the front at E3 Harelbeke in a long-range two-up attack with Terpstra, who went on to win.
"I had a great Classics season, with some nice victories for the team," Lampaert told Cyclingnews at QuickStep's recent team presentation. "It was a case of steady progression. Dwars door Vlaanderen in 2017 was the big breakthrough and from then on it was about taking more responsibility."
That responsibility was enhanced - along with the success of his season as a whole - when he won the Belgian national title in June, putting him in the red, black, and yellow jersey for 12 months. In December he was named Belgian cyclist of the year in the Het Nieuwsblad awards.
"The status came especially after becoming Belgian champion. It feels good wearing the jersey. You get more respect, from all the riders. Also I'm a normal guy and the Belgian public are happy for me that I am champion, so that's a nice thing."
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