Gilbert wins Belgian national road race title

Five years after his first national road race title, Philippe Gilbert (BMC) rode to his second in Lacs de l’Eau d’Heure. Gilbert beat Tim Wellens (Lotto-Soudal) in a sprint, after the two got away in a late break, with Gilbert’s BMC teammate Greg Van Avermaet taking third.

Gilbert and Wellens jumped away with Etixx-QuickStep’s Laurens de Plus inside the final 50 kilometres, shutting down an earlier attack from Thomas de Gendt (Lotto-Soudal). The trio quickly dropped de Gendt, and when Gilbert and Wellens decided to forge on, de Plus was also left behind leaving the two riders to duke it out for the Belgian jersey.

Heading into the final kilometre, Gilbert and Wellens had a comfortable lead of more than a minute over the chasers, which allowed them to ride a very cagey and tactical sprint. Much like a match sprint on the track, they tried to force the other to the front and, at moments, it looked like they might come to a standstill on the drag to the finish line. When Gilbert finally struck out towards the finish line, Wellens had no answer and the elder of the two could throw his arms up in celebration.

There was a delayed start to the day due to a later than expected finish to the women’s race. Around 10 minutes later than planned, the men rolled out under grey skies. There had been some doubts about the participation of Tom Boonen (Etixx-QuickStep) after he fell ill earlier in the race but the former champion was on the start line.

After two laps, a strong group including many of the pre-race favourites began to move clear. The full make-up was the group consisted of: Gilbert, Greg Van Avermaet, Dylan Teuns, Loïc Vliegen, De Plus, Nikolas Maes, Pieter Serry, Sean De Bie, Bart De Clercq, De Gendt, Jelle Wallays, Wellens, Jens Keukeleire, Jan Bakelants, Dries Devenyns, Wout van Aert, Aimé De Gendt, Floris De Tier and Gijs Van Hoecke.

That would prove to be the crucial split in the bunch as riders struggled to chase across. As the rain began to fall, the effort showed for De Bie, and he dropped back and eventually retired citing a broken rib for his departure. It wasn’t only De Bie that suffered and with 100km to go, only 70 riders remained out on course. Several riders did try to bridge the gap, but most were unsuccessful with Jurgen Roelandts one of the few to make it. With five laps remaining, however, the leading group began to diminish.

It was at this point that De Gendt decided to brave the horrible conditions alone. He built little more than a 20-second gap before he was joined by Gilbert, Wellens and De Plus and subsequently dropped. As the trio out front pushed on, De Gendt found more company in Bakelants, Jelle Wallays, Van Avermaet, Pieter Serry, Roelandts and Jens Keukeleire.

With 40km to go, Du Plus already looked to be struggling to stay in touch with Wellens and Gilbert. He held on for a little longer but finally had to wave goodbye to the leading group with 24 kilometres to the line. Behind them, De Gendt and Van Avermaet stopped assisting the chasing group, which allowed their teammates to build their advantage.

Wellens did the lion’s share of the work in the final 10 kilometres and, knowing Gilbert’s finishing speed, tried to shake him off on several occasions. It wasn’t to be for Wellens, and he had no answer to Gilbert in the run to the line.

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing Team5:46:59
2Tim Wellens (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 1 - Cell 2
3Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team0:00:28
4Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto Soudal0:00:34
5Jan Bakelants (Bel) AG2R La MondialeRow 4 - Cell 2
6Pieter Serry (Bel) Etixx - Quick Step0:00:39
7Sébastien Delfosse (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles - Group ProtectRow 6 - Cell 2
8Julien Vermote (Bel) Etixx - Quick Step0:00:42
9Wout Van Aert (Bel) Crelan-Vastgoedservice Continental Team0:00:51
10Laurens De Vreese (Bel) Astana Pro Team0:01:44
11Jérôme Baugnies (Bel) Wanty - Groupe Gobert0:02:50
12Dylan Teuns (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 11 - Cell 2
13Yves Lampaert (Bel) Etixx - Quick StepRow 12 - Cell 2
14Timothy Dupont (Bel) Veranda's Willems Cycling TeamRow 13 - Cell 2
15Sander Armee (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 14 - Cell 2
16Maarten Wynants (Bel) Team Lotto NL - JumboRow 15 - Cell 2
17Gert Dockx (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 16 - Cell 2
18Nikolas Maes (Bel) Etixx - Quick StepRow 17 - Cell 2
19Floris De Tier (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 18 - Cell 2
20Jens Keukeleire (Bel) Orica GreenEdgeRow 19 - Cell 2
21Ben Hermans (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 20 - Cell 2
22Preben Van Hecke (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise0:02:56
23Laurent Evrard (Bel) Team 3M0:02:57
24Gijs Van Hoeck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 23 - Cell 2
25Serge Pauwels (Bel) Dimension Data0:03:05
26Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Lotto Soudal0:03:13
27Stijn Devolder (Bel) Trek - Segafredo0:03:17
28Jelle Wallays (Bel) Lotto Soudal0:03:28
29Laurens De Plus (Bel) Etixx - Quick Step0:03:47
30Oliver Naesen (Bel) IAM CyclingRow 29 - Cell 2
DNSKlaas Vantornout (Bel) Marlux-Napoleon Games Cycling TeamRow 30 - Cell 2
DNFKevin De Mesmaeker (Bel) Team Novo NordiskRow 31 - Cell 2
DNFAmaury Capiot (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 32 - Cell 2
DNFAimé Degendt (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 33 - Cell 2
DNFMoreno De Pauw (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 34 - Cell 2
DNFTim Declercq (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 35 - Cell 2
DNFMaxime Farazijn (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 36 - Cell 2
DNFEliot Lietaer (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 37 - Cell 2
DNFRuben Pols (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 38 - Cell 2
DNFJonas Rickaert (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 39 - Cell 2
DNFJarl Salomein (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 40 - Cell 2
DNFThomas Sprengers (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 41 - Cell 2
DNFStijn Steels (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 42 - Cell 2
DNFDries Van Gestel (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 43 - Cell 2
DNFBert Van Lerberghe (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 44 - Cell 2
DNFJef Van Meirhaeghe (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 45 - Cell 2
DNFPieter Vanspeybrouck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 46 - Cell 2
DNFOtto Vergaerde (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 47 - Cell 2
DNFJens Wallays (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 48 - Cell 2
DNFTom Boonen (Bel) Etixx - Quick StepRow 49 - Cell 2
DNFIljo Keisse (Bel) Etixx - Quick StepRow 50 - Cell 2
DNFGianni Meersman (Bel) Etixx - Quick StepRow 51 - Cell 2
DNFGuillaume Van Keirsbulck (Bel) Etixx - Quick StepRow 52 - Cell 2
DNFStijn Vandenbergh (Bel) Etixx - Quick StepRow 53 - Cell 2
DNFTiesj Benoot (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 54 - Cell 2
DNFKris Boeckmans (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 55 - Cell 2
DNFSean De Bie (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 56 - Cell 2
DNFJasper De Buyst (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 57 - Cell 2
DNFBart De Clercq (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 58 - Cell 2
DNFJens Debusschere (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 59 - Cell 2
DNFFrederik Frison (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 60 - Cell 2
DNFMaxime Monfort (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 61 - Cell 2
DNFTosh Van Der Sande (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 62 - Cell 2
DNFJelle Vanendert (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 63 - Cell 2
DNFLouis Vervaeke (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 64 - Cell 2
DNFLoic Vliegen (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 65 - Cell 2
DNFVictor Campenaerts (Bel) Team Lotto NL - JumboRow 66 - Cell 2
DNFTom Van Asbroeck (Bel) Team Lotto NL - JumboRow 67 - Cell 2
DNFSep Vanmarcke (Bel) Team Lotto NL - JumboRow 68 - Cell 2
DNFJasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek - SegafredoRow 69 - Cell 2
DNFEdward Theuns (Bel) Trek - SegafredoRow 70 - Cell 2
DNFZico Waeytens (Bel) Team Giant - AlpecinRow 71 - Cell 2
DNFJurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Team KatushaRow 72 - Cell 2
DNFDries Devenyns (Bel) IAMCyclingRow 73 - Cell 2
DNFJonas Vangenechten (Bel) IAM CyclingRow 74 - Cell 2
DNFFrederik Backaert (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 75 - Cell 2
DNFGaetan Bille (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 76 - Cell 2
DNFDimitri Claeys (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 77 - Cell 2
DNFThomas Degand (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 78 - Cell 2
DNFKenny De Haes (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 79 - Cell 2
DNFTom Devriendt (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 80 - Cell 2
DNFBoris Dron (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 81 - Cell 2
DNFRoy Jans (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 82 - Cell 2
DNFLander Seynaeve (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 83 - Cell 2
DNFRobin Stenuit (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 84 - Cell 2
DNFKevin Van Melsen (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 85 - Cell 2
DNFFrederik Veuchelen (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 86 - Cell 2
DNFOlivier Chevalier (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles - Group ProtectRow 87 - Cell 2
DNFLudwig De Winter (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles - Group ProtectRow 88 - Cell 2
DNFTom Dernies (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles - Group ProtectRow 89 - Cell 2
DNFThomas Deruette (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles - Group ProtectRow 90 - Cell 2
DNFJonathan Dufrasne (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles - Group ProtectRow 91 - Cell 2
DNFJimmy Duquennoy (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles - Group ProtectRow 92 - Cell 2
DNFGregory Habeaux (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles - Group ProtectRow 93 - Cell 2
DNFKevin Ista (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles - Group ProtectRow 94 - Cell 2
DNFOlivier Pardini (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles - Group ProtectRow 95 - Cell 2
DNFBaptiste Planckaert (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles - Group ProtectRow 96 - Cell 2
DNFGaëtan Pons (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles - Group ProtectRow 97 - Cell 2
DNFJulien Stassen (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles - Group ProtectRow 98 - Cell 2
DNFAntoine Warnier (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles - Group ProtectRow 99 - Cell 2
DNFJens Adams (Bel) Crelan-Vastgoedservice Continental TeamRow 100 - Cell 2
DNFTim Merlier (Bel) Crelan-Vastgoedservice Continental TeamRow 101 - Cell 2
DNFRob Peeters (Bel) Crelan-Vastgoedservice Continental TeamRow 102 - Cell 2
DNFEli Iserbyt (Bel) Marlux-Napoleon Games Cycling TeamRow 103 - Cell 2
DNFKevin Pauwels (Bel) Marlux-Napoleon Games Cycling TeamRow 104 - Cell 2
DNFDieter Vanthourenhout (Bel) Marlux-Napoleon Games Cycling TeamRow 105 - Cell 2
DNFMichael Vanthourenhout (Bel) Marlux-Napoleon Games Cycling TeamRow 106 - Cell 2
DNFGianni Vermeersch (Bel) Veranda's Willems Cycling TeamRow 107 - Cell 2
DNFJoeri Calleeuw (Bel) Veranda's Willems Cycling TeamRow 108 - Cell 2
DNFStef Van Zummeren (Bel) Veranda's Willems Cycling TeamRow 109 - Cell 2
DNFJim Aernouts (Bel) Telenet Fidea Cycling TeamRow 110 - Cell 2
DNFToon Aerts (Bel) Telenet Fidea Cycling TeamRow 111 - Cell 2
DNFTom Meeusen (Bel) Telenet Fidea Cycling TeamRow 112 - Cell 2
DNFNicolas Vereecken (Bel) An Post - Chain ReactionRow 113 - Cell 2
DNFEmiel Wastyn (Bel) An Post - Chain ReactionRow 114 - Cell 2
DNFVincent Baestaens (Bel) Beobank - CorendonRow 115 - Cell 2
DNFDiether Sweeck (Bel) Era - MurprotecRow 116 - Cell 2
DNFLaurens Sweeck (Bel) Era - MurprotecRow 117 - Cell 2
DNFJens Vandekinderen (Bel) Kalas - H Essers - Noff Cycling TeamRow 118 - Cell 2
DNFLaurent Vanden Bak (Bel) Leopard Pro CyclingRow 119 - Cell 2
DNFDieter Bouvry (Bel) Roubaix Metropole Europeenne De LilleRow 120 - Cell 2
DNFMaxime Vantomme (Bel) Roubaix Metropole Europeenne De LilleRow 121 - Cell 2
DNFMichael Van Staeyen (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 122 - Cell 2
DNFKenneth Van Bilsen (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 123 - Cell 2
DNFBoris Vallee (Bel) Fortuneo - Vital ConceptRow 124 - Cell 2

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