Get used to the name Mauri Vansevenant, because you’ll be hearing it for some time yet.
Riding his first full season in the WorldTour, the west Flandrien outkicked riders of the vintage of Bauke Mollema and Mikel Landa to win the GP Industria & Artigianato, placed 11th overall at Itzulia Basque Country, and has proven one of the revelations of the Ardennes classics.
And now Deceuninck-Quick-Step’s young pup is set to play wingman for world champ and father-figure Julian Alaphilippe at Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
“Mauri is a golden nugget,” Alaphilippe said ahead of Liège. “He has shown incredible things at such a young age. He has a strong character, but is a very sweet boy. Very eager to learn too. I know that I am an example to him, so I try to advise and assist him. He will make a lot of progress. Don’t worry: we haven’t seen the last of that boy yet.”