Time for the first flat C2-classic in March and so it's time for the sprinters to deliver.
CT-superstar Gert Steegmans is here to prove that he's one of the fastest in the division and even though the field is quite small today, he has some tough competition:
Die Berg Komt Er has several fast men (Hochmann, Rizza, Abakoumov, Chavanel), local hero Hans Dekkers, Jake Keough, Team Credexbank's sprinters (Clarke, Papok, Kankovský) or Ricki Nelson.
After the first ten quiet kilometers, 3 riders go on the attack: Fredrik Strand Galta, Ken Sebastian Vassdål and Richard Tanguy.
Another then kms later, Massimiliano Maisto tries to jump behind. The 3 escapees lead by 1'30" at this moment.
Maisto couldn't jump away, he's swallowed by the pack a few minutes later. With still 173kms to go, the race looks settled, with the early breakaway leading by 1'40" and the peloton being controlled by Amex and Banco Nacional de Costa Rica.
The gap peaked at 7 minutes halfway through the race. The break of the day works well together, but we all know it's one tough challenge to stay clear.
Especially as two teams started to pace hard: Banco looks in good shape to support their captain Steegmans and Team Credexbank joined them to set the pace. With now 44kms remaining, the gap starts to decrease quickly. The escapees still lead by 3'00".
And just as the pack is going to cut the gap, we see one rider breaking clear from the bunch: Jonas Vangenechten! With 40kms to go, he soloes away and tries to bridge the 2'30"-gap to the BOTD.
Vangenechten fights hard and maintains a 45"-lead over the pack. With 35kms to go, he has also narrowed the gap to the escapees: 1'25". A brave effort, that's for sure.
The 3 early escapees still work together and pull the strings hard. Anyway, with 23kms to go, Vangenechten is only 40" behind, and the pack's down by 1'20" now.
Meanwhile Amex joined Credexbank to lead the pack, while Banco backed down. The pace is still brutal and Vangenechten is soon to be caught with now only 18kms remaining.
The BOTD hasn't give up yet. 14kms before finish, Galta tries a move on his own, but both Vassdål and Tanguy follow immediately. They still hold on to a 35"-lead.
And another attack in the bunch: Niki Østergaard this time! He quickly creates a small gap and will have to fight hard, like Vangenechten did before.
Østergaard with yet another kick, just as he passed the early breakaway with now 12kms to go! The 3 BOTD-companions are soon to be caught by the bunch, after riding 170kms together.
Østergaard proves that he's a decent fighter: 9kms to go and he maintains a 30"-lead over the pack, where the teams already try to bring their leaders in position.
Die Berg Komt Er continues to set the agenda late in the race, this time with horrible news though: JÃri Hochmann topples over Jonas Vangenechten, who looked tired after his solo-effort and crashed in a corner!
Hochmann is only one a few fast riders for Die Berg, but he's the best pure sprinter. Definitely something, that we don't want to see. All riders involved in the crash are:
Hochmann Tanguy and Millar Vangenechten Sebright (who has to abandon the race a couple of minutes later) Stancu Havik Hicks
8kms left and another Gazelle-rider makes a move on his own: Roy Sentjens! The pack is meanwhile led by Banco CR, Credexbank and Amex.
And just as Sentjens joined solo-leader Østergaard, they are swallowed by the field with now 5kms to go. The expected bunch-sprint is soon the be started!
A bit behind Alexander Kristoff and Jonas Aaen Jørgensen, Igor Abakoumov and on the right side it's Simon Clarke and Siarhei Papok leading Alois Kankovský.
Ricki Nelson finds himself several positions behind. That's not perfect, to say so..
..and even worse: Jake Keough! His team worked hard the whole day, but Keogh didn't manage to find a good position and therefore got boxed in right before the sprint begins.
The Kappa-boys got knocked of Dekkers wheel though! And it's Papok, who found Dekkers' wheel, giving Kankovský a nice position. Abakoumov hangs on there.
Now it's time for Steegman to go! And behind Abakoumov, we see that Lasca is still in the mix, same goes for Chavanel and Jørgensen!
With the finish-line approaching, it looks like a battle between Steegmans, Rizza and Dekkers.
Steegmans holds on to his lead, as Rizza seems to suffer. But local hero Dekkers pushes forward on the right side, with Kankovský catching up!
Dekkers passes Steegmans..
..and takes the win! A perfect timed final push gives Hans Dekkers a great win here! Gert Steegmans finishes 2nd and Alois Kankovský had a great finish for 3rd!
It's always huge to win a race on home soil, so Dekkers definitely will have a drink or two this evening!
De Berg Komt Er can be happy, too. The whole team did recover well from Hochmann's crash with Rizza, Abakoumov and Chavanel finishing from 4th to 6th!
Jonas Aaen Jørgensen comes in 7th (while team mates Kristoff and Hagen finish 12th and 13th). Kappa's Francisco Lasca and Mauro Da Dalto (8th and 10th) plus Siarhei Papok complete the Top-10.
Pre-race favorites Ricki Nelson (15th) and Jake Keough (22nd) couldn't deliver today, totally missing the decisive positioning. Just as disappointing as Swedbank's Westling (23rd) or Adira's Artur Gajek (14th), who all scored a few (single) points at least.
