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Gallery: Benoot scores maiden pro victory at Strade Bianche

Tiesj Benoot’s first professional victory was a special one, as the riders tackled unforgettable conditions at the 2018 Strade Bianche.

Photo: Getty Images

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Strade — The peloton split on one of the early dirt sectors in the race. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Strade — While it was stressful in the peloton, American Sepp Kuss (LottoNL-Jumbo) was out front in the breakaway. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Strade — Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) all bundled-up early on, as rain poured down onto the riders. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Strade — Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Strade — For much of the race, world champion Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) was hardly recognizable with a black rainbow jacket covering his white jersey. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Strade — Line choice was key through the dirt sectors. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Strade — Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Strade — The day was marked by many mechanicals and punctures. A rider had to have a bit of luck to make it through the race on Saturday. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Strade — The gloomy day made the peloton barely visible at times. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Strade — Romain Bardet (Ag2r-La Mondiale) is tackling the rough roads of the spring classics for the first time in his career in 2018. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Strade — Michal Kwiatkowski (Sky) kicked-off the finale of the race when he attacked on the eighth sector, which is named after Fabian Cancellara. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Strade — Michal Kwiakowski’s attack created a select group of leaders. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Strade — Three-time world cyclocross champion Wout Van Aert (Vérandas Willems-Crelan) and Romain Bardet emerged from the eighth sector of dirt in the lead. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Strade — Tiesj Benoot (Lotto Soudal) and Pieter Serry (Quick-Step Floors) attacked the chase group on the long road section between the eighth and ninth sectors of dirt. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Strade — Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Strade — Sometimes it can be a bit lonely out there. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Strade — Tiesj Benoot left Pieter Serry behind on the penultimate sector of dirt. After bridging to the leaders, he then dropped them on the final sector of dirt. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Strade — Riders resorted to spraying themselves in order to be able to see the road ahead. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Strade — Tiesj Benoot entered the famous Piazza del Campo alone to the cheers of the crowd. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Strade — Romain Bardet, a podium finisher at the Tour de France, surprisingly finished second at Strade Bianche. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Strade — It had stopped raining by the time the riders finished, but they were still very muddy from the day’s effort. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Strade — Peter Sagan finished eighth at Strade Bianche, his first race in Europe in 2018. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Strade — The podium had a young look to it, as Romain Bardet was the elder statesman at just 27-years-old. Tiesj Benoot and Wout van Aert are both 23-years-old. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Strade — Riders continued to roll into the Piazza as the podium celebration took place. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images

Greg

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