Emphatic win for Eeckhout despite stomach complaint

Niko Eeckhout (Ireland An Post M.Donnelly Grant Thornton Sean Kelly)

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Warm weather to blame for gastro blues

He may turn 39 in December, but Belgian veteran Niko Eeckhout still knows how to suffer and win races.

The man from Izegem took out Tuesday's GP Stad Zottegem from the likes of Jurgen Roelandts and in-form Dane Martin Pedersen, although as the Belga news agency reports, the finale was a little unsavoury.

"I was vomiting full on," said Eeckhout of the finish. "The warm weather was certainly not my ally. I like the cold much better."

The An Post - Sean Kelly Team rider was active throughout the race but eventually the field came together for a bunch kick, which Eeckhout managed to take, despite his poor stomach.

"I was in an early break of 26, but when they didn't drive. When the four leaders got close to five minutes, Silence-Lotto began driving in the peloton. We picked up our pace and so did the other teams later," he explained.

"Silence-Lotto took the final initiative in full, but I could still squeeze out the win on the finishing straight. I think this is a beautiful race and it was one that was missing on my palmares. Today I have also filled that hole," he said.
 

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