"I will not give up easily my yellow jersey"

Tim Wellens was ranked 8th on Monday in La Roche-en-Ardenne, 3rd stage of the Tour de Wallonie, in the hunting group behind the Norwegian winner Odd Christian Eiking . He has kept his yellow leader's jersey, which he wants to defend bravely with his team Lotto-Soudal very attentive since the beginning of the Walloon event.

The 3rd stage of the Tour de Wallonie, spiced up with 6 difficulties, has not easy Wellens and his teammates nevertheless managed the events, the attacks of the runners of Quick Step Floors, second in the ranking with Pieter Serry . Despite a warmth he does not generally appreciate, Wellens has mastered his subject.

" It was a very hard race, the last hill was very steep, like Maxime Monfort had announced, but the legs turn well despite the heat, although I would prefer 15 degrees instead of 30 "said Tim Wellens. " We managed the initial breakaway very well, the peloton came back to the two leading men after their incident at the halfway point, and then I stopped for a sanitary pose and saw Kenny Dehaes attacking, which is not very nice, it then went very fast but the Lotto-Soudal were very good . "

As he had planned Sunday night, Tim Wellens was again attacked repeatedly by the riders of the Quick-Step Floors team in the final. " I responded to all the attacks, I was a bit bored in the sprint and I was not able to express myself for a place, but the sensations were very good and I keep the yellow jersey I certainly would have liked to take a little more advance by winning the stage of La Roche but I can not ask too much . "

Tim Wellens has 4 seconds ahead of Pieter Serry in two stages the end of the Tour de Wallonie. " I certainly would have liked to have had a more advance, but it is not easy to take time at the Tour de Wallonie.It is not easy to get a head start or to get back on track. So it's a status quo . "

The 4th stage will end at Herstal on Tuesday. " I know the roads well, it's 35 kilometers from my home in Sint-Truiden, the stage will not be easy, my opponents will try to take my shirt but I find it very beautiful and I will not give it away "