Sligshotting Kenny De Ketele and Jasper De Buyst (Baloise Insurance)
(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
The overall podium at Gent Six Day
(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Team Baloise Insurance top the overall podium at Gent Six Day
(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Iljo Keisse won the Best Helper/Kristallen Zweetdruppel at the Kristallen Fiets awards ceremony but couldn't attend due to the race so receives his prize on the final night
(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Iljo Keisse receives his 'best domestique' award from race organsier Patrick Sercu
(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Four-time winner Eddy Merckx was on hand to fire the star pistol
(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Mark Cavendish's wife Peta Todd with their daughter Delilah
(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Mark Cavendish and Iljo Keisse
(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Mark Cavendish and Iljo Keisse embrace after they finish second overall
(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Mark Cavendish's wife and children watch the final night of racing
(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Mark Cavendish with his daughter Delilah
(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
The sixth and final night crowd packed the velodrome
(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Race organiser Rob Discard goes to shake Mark Cavendish's hand
(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
The three steps of the podium
(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Mark Cavendish speeds by his watching family
(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
The riders pass over the start/finish line
(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Mark Cavendish out on his own
(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Iljo Keisse with the Best Helper/Kristallen Zweetdruppel award from the Kristallen Fiets
(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Mark Cavendish pops over to say hello to his daughter Delilah
(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Mark Cavendish blows kisses to his daughter during a break from racing
(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Gent Six Day winners Jasper De Buyst and Kenny De Ketele (Team Baloise Insurance)
(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Omega Pharma-QuickStep's Mark Cavendish and Iljo Keisse
(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Mark Cavendish and Iljo Keisse
(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Hugs all around on the final podium
(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
The top two teams: Team Baloise Insurance and Omega Pharma-QuickStep
(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Team Baloise Insurance and Omega Pharma-QuickStep
(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Leif Lampater and Dillier Silvan (Team Caruur)
(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Third place Team Caruur
(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Iljo Keisse gives an interview after the race
(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Cavendish give a bouquet of flowers to his wife and daughter
(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
The win means a lot to Jasper De Buyst and Kenny De Ketele
(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Peta Todd with her daughter Delilah watching husband Mark Cavendish
(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Mark Cavendish has a bouquet of flowers for his family
(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Kenny De Ketele unleashes his sprint
(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
A day before his 22nd birthday Jasper De Buyst and his partner Kenny De Ketele (Baloise Insurance) took victory in the final Madison of the Gent Six Day to claim the overall win ahead of Omega Pharma-QuickStep pair Mark Cavendish and Iljo Keisse. Leif Lampater and Silvan Dillier (Caruur) completed the top three.
The race for the overall victory went right down to the wire with success hinging on the final sprint to the line. De Buyst and De Ketele went into the final race of the night equal on laps and 52-point advantage over their nearest rivals. Knowing that they needed the bonus laps to push the Bloise Insurance duo off the top spot, Cavendish and Keisse went aggressive right from the start. De Buyst and De Ketele were wise to their moves and tracked down every attack.
The two pairs traded blows throughout the day. Cavendish and Keisse drew first blood with victory ahead of Lampater and Dillier in the team elimination. De Buyst and De Ketele had a slower start to the day but edged back into the lead after the 500m sprint due to the bonus lap earned for hitting 400 points.
