'A wicked day for the team' - George Hincapie’s Modern Adventure Team secures its first European Victory at Tour de Wallonie

Modern Adventure Pro Cycling celebrated a landmark achievement as New Zealander Ben Oliver claimed victory on stage 2 of the Tour de Wallonie, marking the team’s first European win. Despite challenging conditions marked by wind and rain, Oliver overcame a late mishap when he became unclipped approaching the finish line. Thanks to the support of teammates Riley Pickrell and Paul Wright, he was able to regain position and launch a successful sprint to the line, securing the team’s biggest triumph since its inception. This victory represents the third race win for Modern Adventure in their debut season, following earlier successes by Samuel Flórez at the Tour of the Gila and Stefan de Bod’s South African national time trial title. Oliver’s stage 2 win, combined with time bonuses, propelled him into the overall race lead ahead of stage 3, while Flórez maintained the King of the Mountains jersey earned on the opening day. The team’s performance under tough weather conditions highlighted their resilience and tactical strength. Ben Oliver described the win as a “wicked day for the team,” emphasising the collective effort that made the success possible. He praised his teammates for their support throughout the stage, particularly in the final kilometres when they helped him recover from his setback. The victory was especially meaningful as it came while team founder George Hincapie was present, adding a celebratory dimension to the achievement. Founded by former professional George Hincapie, Modern Adventure Pro Cycling aims to develop a sustainable pathway for riders with the long-term goal of competing at the Tour de France within five years. The team’s directeur sportif, Ty Magner, credited the win to months of dedication to team cohesion and trust. He highlighted Oliver’s rapid progression from racing criteriums in the United States last season to now competing against WorldTour sprinters, underscoring the team’s mission to nurture emerging talent. The Tour de Wallonie is a prestigious UCI 2.Pro stage race held over five stages across Belgium’s Wallonia region. Modern Adventure’s breakthrough win on this European stage race signals their growing presence on the international cycling scene and sets a promising tone for the remainder of their inaugural season.