As the 2025 season drew to a close, Lucky Sport Cycling Team decided to end in a way that reflected both our ambitions and our spirit – by moving the team to Belgium for the final weeks. We rented a cycling house in Izegem, big enough to host 16 people, and turned it into our base for the end-of-season racing block.

When we left Sweden, the plan was open. We didn’t know exactly what races we would do, or how the calendar would look. What we did know was that Belgium offered opportunities – and we were determined to seize them. Once settled in Izegem, the invites started coming. We were given the chance to race five Pro Kermesses – brutal, high-level one-day races that attract WorldTour riders, ProTeams, and huge crowds. On top of that, the highlight of our entire season arrived: a late invitation to Gooikse Pijl (UCI 1.1), where we would line up against some of the best riders and teams in the world.

But this trip was not only about results. It was about growth, testing ourselves at the highest level, and laying foundations for the future. As some of our original riders had already ended their seasons, we used the opportunity to bring in four new riders:

• Peder Dahl Strand

• Joel Mellby

• Hugo Persson

• Teodor De Luca

Both Joel and Teodor signed contracts through 2026, while Peder and Hugo joined us until the end of the year. We also welcomed Vilmer Ekman, a second-year junior who will join the team full-time in 2026. Vilmer not only trained with the squad but also took on the role of a team helper, even serving as a mechanic during races – a true reflection of the collective spirit we want to build.

These weeks in Belgium gave us racing, stories, setbacks, proud moments, and the hunger to come back even stronger in 2026.

Bordes Izegem Koers – The Belgian Baptism

Our Belgian block began immediately with Bordes Izegem Koers. Barely a day after arriving, we were already pinning on numbers. That same morning, Peder Dahl Strand joined us, making his debut in Lucky Sport colors.

The course was typically Belgian: a short, technical circuit that twisted through narrow town streets before heading onto wider roads outside. The crowd was big, the atmosphere buzzing. And among the starters were seasoned pros, including Tim Declercq, riding in his farewell season – a reminder of the level we were stepping into.

The pace was ferocious from the start. We had Peder as our leader for the day, drawing on his years of Kermesse experience. But one hour into the race, disaster struck. Peder’s number was called over the radio – he had gone down in a crash. For a moment, hearts sank. But fortune was with us. He escaped serious injury, and thanks to quick help from our DS in the car – and even a push from a Belgian fan in the crowd wearing his fan club shirt – Peder got back to the bunch. The chase was furious, hitting 80 km/h through the town center, but he made it back.

Not long after, the weather turned. Rain poured down, winds picked up, and the race exploded. A dangerous group of 15 riders, including six from Team Flanders – Baloise, went clear. It looked like the winning move. But with some teams missing out, the chase was full gas. The break began to attack itself too early, and eventually, it all came back together.

With 40 km to go, it was our moment. The plan was simple: set up Peder for a late attack at 20 km to go. Against WorldTour sprinters, a small group was our only chance. But again, luck turned against us. Peder crashed a second time, needing a bike change and another chase. He made it back, but the opportunity was gone. The legs were heavy, the bunch was flying, and all we could do was sprint it out.

Results:

• 36th – Peder Dahl Strand

• 39th – Hjalmar Klyver

• 69th – Gustav Thompson

• DNF – Axel Källberg & Max Nielsen

Not the fairytale start, but it was a baptism of fire – and a crash course in Belgian racing.

Settling In – New Faces, New Energy

After Bordes Izegem Koers, we had five days until the next race. Those days became just as important as the racing itself. During this time, Joel Mellby, Hugo Persson, Teodor De Luca, and Vilmer Ekman joined the team. Training sessions on the Belgian roads helped bond the group. For the new guys, it was a chance to integrate, while for the team, it was an opportunity to adjust roles and test new dynamics.

Management was briefly away in France with one of our partners, but the riders trained hard, ate together, and started to build the atmosphere we want for the future – a professional, supportive, and driven environment.

Desselgem Koerse – Memorial Briek Schotte

The next stop on our Belgian block was Desselgem Koerse – Memorial Briek Schotte, a true classic on the Pro Kermesse calendar, first held in 1941. The course was as Belgian as it gets – narrow roads, endless corners, and constant positioning battles. The forecast promised sunshine but also a bit of wind, meaning the race would be decided by both legs and tactics.

With a bigger squad at the start, our plan was to race offensively from the beginning. Right from the first lap, Hjalmar Klyver jumped into the day’s early break. When the names in the group started coming over race radio, we realized just how stacked it was: Elia Viviani, Jonas Rickaert, and Dries De Bondt – the three biggest favorites of the day – were all there. For us, this was a golden opportunity.

But not everything went our way. On the radio, Hugo’s number was suddenly called out for a mechanical. In the chaos of the race and with the huge crowds around the course, the call came late, and by the time we realized it, the team car had already passed him. At the same time, Max Nielsen, still on the comeback trail from his concussion, lost contact with the peloton, and Teodor De Luca, weakened by a month of illness, was forced to step off as well.

Up front, the pace was brutal. Peder Dahl Strand, riding his second race in Lucky colors, decided to try to bridge across. He got clear with one other rider and started to slowly close the gap. For a moment, it looked promising. But when the pros in the front realized what was happening, they turned the screw, lifted the pace, and not only forced Peder to drop back but also created a split in the lead group – leaving Hjalmar caught on the wrong side.

That forced us to replan. With Hjalmar stuck in the second half of the split, the controversial call was made: the peloton riders had to ride. We gave the order to move up and start working to bring things back together. The team executed perfectly – reeling in Hjalmar’s group – but the first group was simply too strong. They held their gap all the way to the finish, winning by three minutes.

This time, though, we were ready for the sprint in the peloton. Peder positioned himself well, launched a strong kick, and finished 3rd in the bunch sprint, giving him 13th place overall. A very strong performance from our new Norwegian signing, and a sign of things to come.

Results:

• 13th – Peder Dahl Strand

• 36th – Joel Mellby

• 38th – Gustav Thompson

• 48th – Hjalmar Klyver

• 49th – Axel Källberg

A strong showing, and a reminder of why Peder was brought in.

Gooikse Pijl – Our First UCI 1.1

Now the focus was shifted, five days of training before the highlight of the season: Gooikse Pijl, the first UCI 1.1 race for us, ever. Eleven WorldTour teams, five ProTeams, and us – plus a few other Continental squads. With riders like Jonathan Milan, Søren Wærenskjold, and Dylan Groenewegen on the start list, we knew it was going to be a hard race. We were the youngest team on the start line, both in the peloton and in the service car.

We had one big goal for the race. We knew that it would be difficult to get a result against the big sprint trains, but our focus was on showing the other teams and the organizers that we are here to race. The plan was simple: get into the breakaway. From kilometer zero, we were on every move, even initiating some of them. The pace was extremely high and all the early attempts were brought back. At one point, a group of 20 riders went clear with four Lucky riders in it – we committed fully, but the WorldTour and ProTeams were not happy and quickly reeled it in. After about 90 minutes of racing, a break finally stuck. With 132 km to go, Axel was in the move together with riders from Soudal Quick-Step, Alpecin-Deceuninck, and another Continental team, Beat.

From there, the other teams were content to let the break ride. The plan for Axel was to conserve some energy and then try to attack again in the closing kilometers. With 55 km to go and three minutes’ advantage over the peloton, our team car was up feeding Axel’s group when the radio announced that Joel Mellby had crashed. Fortunately, it wasn’t serious – he was back on the bike – but we dropped back to help him return to the bunch and check he was okay.

Once Mellby was settled, we rejoined the convoy. The gap was still holding at around two minutes. With 25 km to go, rain began to pour and suddenly heartbreak struck – Axel lost grip in a corner and went down hard. With no service car nearby, he was left to fend for himself. He got back on his bike, but there was no way to rejoin the break.

In the final 20 km, we switched to Plan B. Peder, who had shown strong legs, was to find Hjalmar’s wheel. Hjalmar would help keep the pace and take the wind, aiming to position Peder inside the last five kilometers for a shot at a top 20 in the sprint. Meanwhile, Max, who was feeling better, was given the green light to attack with 10 km left. He did so, getting a small gap, but it wasn’t enough.

The break was caught with just 4 km to go. In the final run-in, we had nothing left to match the power of the WorldTour and ProTeams, rolling across the line in the bunch. The race was won by Oded Kogut, with Dylan Groenewegen in 2nd and Thijssen Gerben 3rd.

Results:

• 41st – Peder Dahl Strand

• 51st – Gustav Thompson

• 58th – Joel Mellby

• 59th – Hugo Persson

• 94th – Max Nielsen (+0:36)

• 106th – Hjalmar Klyver (+0:46)

• 133rd – Axel Källberg (+2:41)

Every rider crossed the line. Evex§ry rider showed fight. A milestone for Lucky Sport.

Textielprijs Vichte – Fighting Through Fatigue

Coming off the emotional high of Gooikse Pijl, reality hit the team hard. A small wave of illness had started to spread through the squad – nothing serious, but enough to sap energy. Teodor De Luca had already left the camp, sidelined by sickness, and several others were feeling the early signs of a cold. Still, with just three races left on the calendar, the mindset was clear: push on and finish the season strong.

Textielprijs Vichte offered a different challenge compared to the other Pro Kermesse races. Instead of the tight and technical town-center circuits, this one featured longer laps, bigger roads, a small climb, and an exposed section where crosswinds could decide everything. And once again, the startlist was stacked – WorldTour and ProTeams lining up to make the race brutally hard.

We knew positioning would be key, so the plan was to race aggressively from the gun. The riders followed the instructions, launching attacks and marking moves early. But nothing stuck. The speed was relentless – the first hour was covered at over 52 km/h – and gradually the fatigue of the Belgian block began to show.

Both Peder Dahl Strand and Hugo Persson, not feeling 100%, decided to step aside early. That left five riders to fly the flag. They fought hard, but with heavy legs just two days after Gooikse Pijl, we missed the decisive split. In the end, it was about survival and rolling home.

Results:

• 36th – Hjalmar Klyver

• 59th – Joel Mellby

• 117th – Axel Källberg

• 118th – Gustav Thompson

• 119th – Max Nielsen

Not our strongest day, but part of the Belgian baptism – learning how to suffer, recover, and line up again.Zwevezele Koers – The Final Dance

GP Dr. Eugeen Roggeman – Taking the Race into Our Hands

After a rest day following Vichte, we lined up for GP Dr. Eugeen Roggeman. Compared to the other races in this block, this one was considered “easier” – fewer WorldTour and ProTeams, but still plenty of strong Continental squads. That gave us a chance to try something different: racing on the front foot and dictating the tempo ourselves.

The motivation was high. With bonus sprints offering prize money, the riders were eager to animate the race. From kilometer zero, we attacked – Axel, Gustav, and Max taking turns to pressure the field alongside our Norwegian neighbors from Coop and Lillehammer. Soon, Axel Källberg got himself into the day’s main break with two Norwegians, representing the team well at the front. The trio worked hard, but eventually the peloton reeled them back in.

That’s when Gustav Thompson made his move. Perfectly timed, he countered just as the pace eased, jumping away with a Belgian rider. Together, they built a small gap and contested one of the intermediate sprints – which Gustav won, delivering a nice morale boost to the team.

Meanwhile, Peder, still struggling with illness, was forced to abandon. But the rest of the squad kept themselves positioned for the finale. The problem was that our aggressive racing came at a cost. Having burned matches all day to control the pace, the team had little left when six riders launched a decisive move with two laps to go.

We worked hard with a few other teams to close it down, and with 1 km to go we had them back in sight. But the speed was so high that when the line came, the Coop riders from the original move still had the power to go 1st, 3rd, and 4th. We had to settle for the places just behind.

Results:

• 15th – Axel Källberg

• 19th – Gustav Thompson

• 40th – Hjalmar Klyver

• 42nd – Hugo Persson

• 49th – Joel Mellby

• 59th – Max Nielsen

It wasn’t the result we dreamed of, but it was one of our best collective races in terms of attitude. The riders loved being on the front foot, setting the tone, and proving that Lucky Sport can not only follow but also animate the action.

Zwevezele Koers – The Final Battle

No rest, no mercy. The very next day after GP Dr. Eugeen Roggeman, it was already time to pin on numbers again – this time for Zwevezele Koers, the last race of our 2025 season. And it quickly became clear why so few WorldTour and ProTeams had lined up the day before: they were saving their legs for this one.

Zwevezele is a classic Belgian course – flat, fast, and unforgiving. With a bit of wind it can turn into chaos, but on this occasion the forecast showed calm conditions. That meant there would be no tactical sheltering in echelons. Instead, it would be pure power from start to finish.

From the very first lap, the speed was blistering. Riders were dropping out almost immediately, and the pace never let up. It became an elimination race, every lap shedding more and more riders. Max Nielsen, Peder Dahl Strand, Hugo Persson, and Gustav Thompson all had to throw in the towel as the relentless tempo took its toll.

The front group of around 20 riders eventually carved out a gap on the second chase group, where Joel Mellby was digging deep. Lap after lap, he fought shoulder-to-shoulder with experienced pros, keeping the deficit to just 20 seconds. For a moment, it looked like the groups might come back together. But as the finale approached, the gap stretched to 40 seconds – too much to close.

Still, Joel rode with grit and determination, holding his own in a brutal field. Crossing the line in 27th place, he capped off his first year as a U23 rider with a strong perforemance. For a rider who only just made the step up from the juniors, it was an impressive display of endurance and race maturity.

A Season to Remember

In just a few weeks, we raced five Pro Kermesse events and our first ever UCI 1.1. We brought in four new riders, gained experience, and showed that Lucky Sport Cycling Team can compete at this level.

We leave Belgium tired, proud, and hungrier than ever. The key pieces of our 2026 squad are falling into place – and the journey is only just beginning.