The fourth edition of the Mémorial Frank Vandenbroucke, otherwise known as Binche-Chimay-Binche, was held on Tuesday. As a 1.1 categorised race on the UCI Europe Tour Binche-Chimay-Binche is a one day race which mixes World Tour teams with those invited from the Pro Continental and Continental ranks.

Departing from the historic Belgian city of Binche the one day race journeys to the town of Chimay before looping back around to finish within Binche. The fourth Mémorial Frank Vandenbroucke concluded with a 16.2 kilometre long finish circuit around Binche, consisting of four laps. The result was a 187.6 kilometre parcours which on paper suited the sprinters in the peloton.

Five riders would form the breakaway of the day; consisting of Nico Sijmens of Cofidis, Thomas Degand of Accent.jobs – Wanty, Maxim Belkov of Team Katusha, Bert-Jan Lindeman of Vacansoleil – DCM, and Tom Dernies of Wallonie – Bruxelles. The peloton would eventually neutralise this five-man breakaway with 42.5 kilometres remaining.

Shortly afterwards a new breakaway of some 15 to 20 cyclists would form after a split in the peloton. Gaining a maximum advantage of approximately 30 seconds, the teams of the sprinters would ultimately close the gap between the two groups with roughly 15 kilometres of Binche-Chimay-Binche remaining.

Inside 16.2 kilometres remaining, and on the final lap, several counter-attacks would be launched by the likes of Argos-Shimano, Cofidis, BMC, AG2R Le Mondiale, Europcar, Crelan-Euphony and Wallonie – Bruxelles. However, in spite of a lack of race radios and an inability for one or two teams to stamp their control over the race, the peloton would initially manage to neutralise each new breakaway attempt.

However, five riders would manage to slip off the front of the disorganised peloton with roughly eight kilometres remaining. With this fresh five-man breakaway consisting of Maarten Tjallingii of Team Belkin, Romain Zingle of Cofidis, Evaldas Siskevicius of Sojasun, Silvan Dillier of BMC, and Olivier Pardini of Verandas Willems. The peloton would catch the last survivor, Romain Zingle, with approximately just 600 metres remaining.

This coincided with the peloton entering a section of pavé (cobbles) which began just 1200 metres from the uphill finish of Binche-Chimay-Binche and continued through to the finishing line. Where upon reeling in Zingle a counter-attack was launched by none other than Greg Van Avermaet of BMC, resulting in a mad scramble behind to follow the wheel of the Belgian.

Gradually, and enduring much pain, Bjorn Leukemans of Vacansoleil – DCM and Janse van Rensburg of Argos – Shimano would bridge across to Greg Van Avermaet. Where Janse van Rensburg launched a counter-attack-cum-sprint towards the finishing line with just a couple of hundred metres remaining and claimed his first professional victory for 2013 and Argos – Shimano.

The South African would comfortable beat second place Leukemans and third place Van Avermaet to the line by approximately four or five bike lengths. With Lars Boom of Belkin, Jens Debusschere of Lotto Belisol, Michael van Staeyen of Topsport Vlaanderen – Baloise, Jetse Bol of Belkin, Adrien Petit of Cofidis, Laurens de Vreese of Topsport Vlaanderen – Baloise, and Jan Ghyselinck of Cofidis rounding out the top ten positions in that order.