Last year the first edition of the Egmont Cycling Race – the successor of the GP Stad Zottegem – ended in a bunch sprint. Many adventurers wanted to avoid a repeat of that scenario this year.
Four attackers were able to cycle a lead of more than 5 minutes. Dylan Teuns also wanted to show himself in his first race for Israel-Premier Tech and went in search of the leading group together with Florian Vermeersch (Lotto-Soudal), without success.
Tempobeul Victor Campenaerts was able to catch one counterattack after the other, but the peloton had a hard time calling Robert Scott, the last survivor of the early breakaway, to order.
Kristian Sbaragli (Alpecin-Deceuninck) made an ultimate attempt to avoid a sprint, but the trains were already on the rails. Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ) started the sprint, but Arnaud De Lie whizzed past him. Teammate Jasper De Buyst was 3rd.
It is already the 9th victory of the season for the neopro of Lotto-Soudal. Two days ago he also triumphed in the Schaals Sels.
“Everything went as planned,” said De Lie. “I am booking my ninth victory and with Jasper De Buyst in third place we are collecting important UCI points for the team. I hope to continue this.”
“Due to the oppressively warm weather, it was a tough race here. When the last lap started, I was really at my limit. Fortunately, I could once again count on a strong team.”
“In the last 200 meters I was dropped off, but I wasn’t fresh at all. On the contrary. I was surprised that I could keep everyone behind me. Perhaps the best was off the rest as well.”
