But once in front, he continued his effort. “As a Walloon, it's a great pleasure to be at the front of the Walloon classics. And despite the weather, there were many brave people to encourage us on the side of the road, especially in the Mur de Huy.”
Before freezing rain and hailstones fell on the race and the region, precipitating the abandonment of many runners. But not that of Johan Meens. Who continued, even when he was caught by the peloton. “It was an extreme day, which I won't forget, the hailstones were hitting my legs… But I made it to the end. Maybe because the Belgians are more used to this weather…”
Liège is the most beautiful race on which to escape.
This new escape gave him new ideas for La Doyenne, in which he will participate again on Sunday. “If I hadn't planned to go in the breakaway at La Flèche, I'm tempted to go there again in Liège, because it's the best race to be at the front”he adds.
Tough and determined, 24 years old, Johan Meens progresses every year. He is getting closer to victory, having placed second in a stage of the Sazka Tour in the Czech Republic, fourth in a stage of the Tour du Rwanda this year and fifth, recently, in the Volta Limburg Classic in the Czech Republic. -Down. “I hope to continue improving so that one day I can aim for a top 20, or better yet, in a classic like the Flèche Wallonne.”
