De Gendt and Wellens on the way to Belgium from Il Lombardia - on their bikes
(Cyclingnews.com)

Thomas De Gendt and Tim Wellens have set off on what they have called `The Final Breakaway`, taking the long and slow way of returning to Belgium from Il Lombardia by bike.  The Lotto Soudal duo set off from Como on Sunday morning and are covering the 1,200km journey in six days, carrying all their clothes and belongings as part of an end-of-season adventure. They will post updates on social media with the hashtag #TheFinalBreakaway.     `It is just to do something other than training or race, something fun with the bike,` De Gendt told Cyclingnews. `It´s riding your bike but without the pressure. You have to be at your hotel before dark and that´s it.`ADVERTISEMENT De Gendt came up with the idea this summer. Several professional rides have started to swap racing for touring or bike packing adventures. Italy`s Daniel Oss has completed two rides in Italy and Larry Warbasse and Conor Dunne rode an alternative #NoGoTour after their AquaBlue Sport team folded before the Tour of Britain.  De Gendt and Wellens chose to ride home to Belgium in six days, because a shorter time would have required more than 200km per day. De Gendt is a breakaway expert and Wellens a proven Classics contender, but neither want to race their way to Belgium. `We didn´t want a mental or physical challenge. We just want to go home,` De Gendt said. - Lotto Soudal (@Lotto_Soudal) October 12, 2018 You can read more at Cyclingnews.com