Jasper Stuyven sprints faster than Yves Lampaert in battle of the Belgians
Jasper Stuyven has won Omloop het Nieuwsblad. The Trek-Segafredo rider from Leuven won the sprint against Yves Lampaert in Ninove after a hotly contested race, dominated by a seven-strong leading group.
Five riders took their leave of the peloton in the opening race. Senne Leysen (Alpecin – Fenix), Manuele Boaro (Astana Pro Team), Matteo Jorgenson (Movistar Team), Mathijs Paasschens (Bingoal - WB) and Lluís Mas (Movistar Team) gained a maximum advantage of about seven minutes. But before they entered the final of the race, their story was over.
Thereupon, eight riders sneaked off. Frederik Frison (Lotto – Soudal), Yves Lampaert (Deceunick – Quick-Step), Tim Declercq (Deceunick – Quick-Step), Matteo Trentin (CCC Team), Jonas Rutsch (EF Pro Cycling), Jasper Stuyven (Trek – Segafredo), Mike Teunissen (Team Jumbo – Visma) and Søren Kragh (Team Sunweb) soon had a substantial advantage to their opponents. With only one hour of racing to go, the winner of the race found himself in the leading group. The German rider Rutsch had to leave the group and the seven remaining leaders were to determine who would win the opening classic.
On the Kapelmuur, Stuyven and Lampaert accelerated and made off. Kragh Andersen was the only one to follow. On the Bosberg, the trio remained together, while Matteo Trentin tried to come back. While the Italian was hanging on closely, the three did not stop riding until the last 2 km. Lampaert attacked, Stuyven came back. Kragh Andersen cracked and disappeared from the race. Stuyven finished it off in the sprint before Lampaert, Andersen completed the podium.
