Admittedly, it was a tough edition with rain and brutal weather conditions being the thread running through the course.
The further salt and pepper of our race are the curving roads in our landscape and then everyone knows we will sprint again with a reduced peloton.
At a quarter past 10 the starting gun sounded in Ichtegem, a village with a rich cycling history. It, excuse the expression, did not rain immediate attacks but in the end Tom Bohli (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) and regional riders Gianni Marchand (Tarteletto-Isorex), Victor Vercouillie (Team Flanders- Baloise) and Mathias Vanoverberghe (Philippe Wagner-Bazin) got a bonus of up to three minutes.
Meindert Weulink (Parkhotel Valkenburg) was the only one to cross over to this breakaway group through a powerful passage on the cobbles of the Lookhuisstraat.
The peloton kept the escapees within range, although it was brutal due to, needless to say, the weather conditions. Thus, only 98 riders made it to the finish.
The sauce of narrow roads and rain further ensured a natural selection so about 30 riders prepared for the sprint in Roeselare.
There, Jarne Van De Paar (Lotto DSTNY) took the measure of Timothy Dupont (Tarteletto- Isorex) and Dutchman David Dekker ( Arkea- B&B Hotels). Immediately the second pro victory for this top talent from the Lotto-Dstny stable.
TOP 10
1. Jarne Van De Paar (Lotto DSTNY)
2. Timothy Dupont (Tarteletto - Isorex)
3. David Dekker (Arkea- B&B Hotels)
4. Francisco Galvan Fernandez (Equipo Kern Pharma)
5. Emilien Jeanniere (Totalenergies)
6. Lionel Taminiaux (Lotto DSTNY)
7. Henri Uhlig (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
8. Jenthe Biermans (Arkea - B&B Hotels)
9. Thimo Willems (Volkerwessels CT)
10. Vito Braet (Intermarché- Wanty)
Full results: HERE
