Tiesj Benoot achieved his off-season goal. The Ghent resident participated on Sunday in the Trail de la Soupe, a challenging trail run in La-Roche-en-Ardenne, Belgium. The Jumbo-Visma cyclist completed the 23.3 kilometers, including 798 vertical meters, in 1 hour and 53 minutes, earning him 9th place in the competition.
David Gaudu (Groupama FDJ), also present in a similar race.
However, Benoot wasn’t the only professional cyclist who impressed this weekend with an outstanding performance in the race. David Gaudu, the French rider from Groupama-FDJ, was present in the Saint-Etienne region during a 78 km trail run divided between two runners. Gaudu completed the first 34 kilometers. “It’s like a challenge among friends. It keeps me off the bike and is good for the muscles, so I enjoy doing it in the offseason,” he said to L’Equipe.
“In terms of effort, a trail race approaches cycling,” said Gaudu, who decided to leave social media after the disappointing year of 2023. “It’s a battle against yourself, as if you were climbing a hill. Of course, there are opponents, but it’s mainly about pushing your own limits.”