Hugo Houle donates Flanders prize to rehabilitation center
Canadian spends day in the breakaway and crests Oude Kwaremont first to secure prize money for the facility where Stig Broeckx is recovering from life-threatening 2016 crash
Hugo Houle has had a consistent if unremarkable Classics season in 2019. On Sunday at De Ronde van Vlaanderen he had his best ride to date. Houle’s job was to go on the attack for Astana Pro Cycling who lacked a five-star race favourite in the 270-km race defined by the cobbled climbs of the Flemish Ardennes.
Houle was the only WorldTour riders in the four-man move who went up the road in the early going of the season’s second Monument. He was joined by Damien Touzé (Cofidis), Kenneth van Rooy (Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise) and Jesper Asselman (Roompot-Charles). They got a maximum lead of eight minutes.
“It was our goal to get in the breakaway today, to try something with Magnus Cort or Davide Ballerini in today’s final. I felt good and I was happy to be in the break today, as it’s a special race. It was my second time in the leading group at the Tour of Flanders, and again I enjoyed it,” Houle said about the day’s efforts.
Congratulations to Hugo Houle, who wins the GP @StigBroeckx and gets to donate € 5.000 to charity, thanks to @NatLot_Belgie! #RVV19 #GPStigBroeckx @FlandersClassic
— Lotto Soudal (@Lotto_Soudal) April 7, 2019
The day’s challenges began with 150-km still to race on the first ascent of three of the Oude Kwaremont. At the top awaited the GP Stig Broeckx, a 5,000 euro prize sponsored by the Nationale Loterij that the rider could donate to a charity of their choice.
Houle powered away from his breakaway companions to take the prize which he will be donating to the rehabilitation center where Stig Broeckx is recovering from his May 2016 crash. Broeckx, a rider for Lotto-Soudal at the time, suffered a life-threateing crash at the 2016 Tour of Belgium. The now 28-year-old was put into an induced coma after the crash caused by a motor bike that brought down over a dozen riders. When a medical update came from his team, they said he was in a vegetative state with severe brain damage. Broeckx came out of the coma in December 2016 and has continued to recover from the injuries he sustained.
“I’m delighted that I could win the GP Stig Broeckx, it feels good to support a colleague in this way. I donate the 5,000 euros to the rehabilitation center where Stig is working on his recovery, I wish him all the best,” Houle said.
