Not only in ‘t Kuipke does the name “Iljo Keisse” roll off the slopes continuously.
Also during the derny criterium of Wetteren “Iljooo, Iljooo, Ijlooo” reverberated through the streets. Keisse drove his last derny race there. It turned out to be a nice farewell party for the experienced hand of Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl. For example, the organization decorated the arrival zone with the portraits of the “home driver”.
He was also allowed to vent his heart in sports.
The evening counted three songs. A reconstruction.
1. It was Keisse himself who took care of the first issue of the day, the dropout. After our compatriot, Oliver Naesen and Jules Hesters finished, also someone who can pull his strings as a pistier. Arnaud De Lie was just able to stay ahead of Victor Campenaerts in the elimination. Fabio Jakobsen was unlucky and had to settle for sixth place.
2. The large crowd that had turned up was then allowed to prepare for a derny series over fifteen rounds. In this, former Belgian champion Dries De Bondt showed his supremacy. Jasper De Buyst finished second ahead of Fabio Van Den Bossche. Edward Theuns in turn held Jakobsen behind him.
3. But the European champion came under full steam during the last derny series, the final, this time over 20 laps. Fabio Jakobsen beat Arnaud De Lie and Victor Campenaerts. Edward Theuns crossed the finish line in fourth place, Iljo Keisse was fifth.
Thanks to that victory, Fabio Jakobsen was able to appropriate the overall victory and he succeeds his Danish teammate Michael Morkov as the final laureate of the Dernyfestival in Wetteren.
