Karl-Patrick Lauk has won the sixth stage of the Tropicale Amissa Bongo, which was run over 127 kilometres in circuits around Port-Gentil. The Estonian rider was a member, together with our French rider Alexis Guérin, of the long breakaway of 14 riders that had started at the beginning of the stage. Lauk outsprinted the French riders Geoffrey Soupe (TotalEnergie), new yellow jersey, and Clement Alleno (Burgos-BH). Lennert Teugels kept the KOM jersey. (Photo TAB2023)
Our rider, winner of the Tour of Estonia in 2017 and 2021, won in Port-Gentil his first professional win and the first one of Bingoal WB in 2023!
Karl-Patrick Lauk. « This first victory of the season for me and the team is really good for everyone. We came to the Tropicale Amissa Bongo to win at least one stage and we did it. I worked hard on Friday’s stage to help Louis Blouwe with his overall classification but, unfortunately, it didn’t work. On Saturday, Alexis Guérin launched the breakaway right from the start. We found ourselves with fourteen riders at the front during the whole stage. So it was a long day. Only six or seven riders really worked together in the lead group but we managed, with TotalEnergie in particular, to hold on. In the final, Alexis did a very big job for me until the last kilometre. I launched my sprint in the last 220 metres and was able to control Geoffrey Soupe. I am very happy with our work since the beginning of the Tropicale Amissa Bongo, the team is very strong. This victory on Saturday is a great reward!