Dwars door Vlaanderen: Lampaert parlays Quick-Step tactics to victory

Local boy Yves Lampaert capitalised on some top tactical work by Quick-Step Floors to take a solo victory at Dwars door Vlaanderen. Philippe Gilbert made it a double day of glory for the Belgian team, sprinting to second place from the three-man chasing group. Alexey Lutsenko (Astana) rounded off the podium, beating Luke Durbridge (Orica-Scott) into third place.

"For me it’s a dream that came true. It’s not that far from my home and I did a lot of recons to do this race," Lampaert said. "To win, for me it’s a fantastic gift that I can give to the team and thanks to everybody."

Quick-Step had two cards to play in the finale and found themselves with a royal flush when it came down to the crunch. Lampaert laid the heavy groundwork on the final climbs before an attack from Gilbert on the Paterberg forced the race-winning split. Lampaert was one of the only riders who had the legs to follow Gilbert, along with Lutsenko and Durbridge.

The quartet worked well together, pulling out a gap of over a minute, which was helped by a lack of co-operation behind. Even with 10 kilometres remaining, it became clear that the winner of the race would come from the four out front. They worked well together until Gilbert finally broke ranks on the final stretch of cobbles.

No sooner was Gilbert brought back than Lampaert made his own move. Lampaert, who missed most of the Classics last season after injuring his Achilles when his girlfriend accidentally ran into him with a shopping trolley, had to fight hard to build the gap but he knew the roads and eventually won by 37 seconds over his teammate.

"For me it's a dream that came true. It's not that far from my home and I did a lot of recons to do this race. To win, for me it's a fantastic gift that I can give to the team and thanks to everybody," Lampaert said after his win.

How it happened

There was a somber start to the day as the riders and public honoured the victims of last year's terror attack in Brussels with a minute's silence. The attacks happened on the eve of last year's race and provided the lingering concern would mark the entire Classics programme in Belgium. This year, the general atmosphere, while reflective, was more buoyant than that of 12 months ago.

The racing got underway with clear skies above and the riders were ready to get down to business quickly. Right from the get-go, riders were trying to break free of the peloton as a barrage of moves came off the front. After more than 30 kilometres of racing, a solid break formed with Kenneth Van Bilsen (Cofidis, Solutions Credits), Ivan Savitsky (Gazprom - Rusvelo), Lawrence Naesen (WB Veranclassic Aqua Protect), Benjamin Perry (Israel Cycling Academy), Michael Goolaerts (Veranda's Willems Crelan), Jon Ander Insausti (Bahrain-Merida).

With Quick-Step Floors happy to control things on the front, they allowed the six men a healthy advantage of almost six minutes at one stage, before bringing it down to much closer to five minutes. That didn't last long though and Quick-Step upped the pace as they approached the first of 12 climbs the Nieuwe Kwaremont. By that point, only three minutes separated the escapees from the charging peloton.

While the leaders did their best to hold off the inevitable, the battle for Belgian supremacy began behind. Lotto Soudal's former winner Jelle Wallays, or Speedy Wally as he's affectionately known by his fans, punched a hole in the air by charging up the second climb of the day, the Kattenberg. He never got too far ahead of the peloton but the pressure brought the gap down to 1:33, having been at just over two minutes only moments before.

Sensing the catch was not too far away, Van Bilsen tried a number of fruitless moves but he could do nothing to halt the tide of the peloton washing over them. After Wallays did some damage, Belgian champion Philippe Gilbert (Quick-Step Floors). Gilbert's move killed two birds with one stone by splitting the peloton and all but ending the day of the escapees.

Joining Gilbert in his band of brothers were Wallays, Yves Lampaert (Quick-Step Floors), Loic Vliegen, Dylan Teuns (BMC), Mat Hayman, Luke Durbridge (Orica-Scott), Mike Teunissen (Sunweb), Dylan Groenewegen, Amund Jansen (LottoNl-Jumbo), Matti Breschel, Alexey Lutsenko (Astana), Marco Marcato (UAE Team Emirates), Lukas Postlberger (Bora-Hansgrohe), Cyril Lemoine (Cofidis).

Notable absences from that move were Arnaud Demare (FDJ), Sep Vanmarcke (Cannondale-Drapac) and John Degenkolb (Trek-Segafredo). Edward Theuns (Trek-Segafredo) accelerated hard in front of the peloton on the Taaienberg, only to find some watchdogs neutralising his efforts. Despite some work from Bahrain-Merida, the gap grew up to 45 seconds when approaching the Oude Kwaremont. Lutsenko and Lampaert were setting the pace on the long cobbled climb.

The Paterberg turned out to be Quick-Step Floors' battleground. In front, Lampaert led the first part of the climb before teammate Gilbert accelerated on the final section of the short but steep cobbled climb. Durbridge, Lutsenko and Lampaert were the only riders who managed to keep up with the Belgian champion.

Back in the peloton, there was another attack featuring Stybar and Terpstra. The other teams were left without an answer. Terpstra and Lampaert bridged up with the nine remaining riders of the former lead group. Further back, a group of 15 riders was coming closer. On the tenth climb of the day, the Vossenhol climb, the two chase groups came together and formed a peloton of 26 riders. The four leaders were co-operating perfectly and kept the first peloton at 45 seconds on the Vossenhol climb.

With little co-operation in the chasing bunch, the four leaders were allowed to extend and hold their lead. Quick-Step had the upper hand with two in the key move, and Gilbert and Lampaert did their best to soften up the other escapees. Gilbert struck first with a move on the final stretch of cobbles, Herlegemstraat. He was brought back but Lampaert was quick to react and made his own move soon after.

As Gilbert sat on the back, Durbridge and Lutsenko tried to catch the young Belgian. It looked like they might just do it but they appeared to give up when another injection of pace from Lampaert increased the distance.

Quick-Step almost always turns up to a race with plenty of options, but often they fail to convert that into victory. On this occasion, it the team managed to play it spot on and Lampaert ground out his first individual win since the 2015 season.

"Dit is nu hoe het geluk van een koersmens eruit ziet". @yveslampaert wint @DwarsdrVlaander! #DDV pic.twitter.com/aN8JR7c1wc

Full Results

Swipe to scroll horizontally
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Yves Lampaert (Bel) Quick-Step Floors4:47:26
2Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Quick-Step Floors0:00:39
3Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRow 2 - Cell 2
4Luke Durbridge (Aus) Orica-ScottRow 3 - Cell 2
5Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo0:01:03
6Oliver Naesen (Bel) AG2R La MondialeRow 5 - Cell 2
7Tiesj Benoot (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 6 - Cell 2
8Dylan Van Baarle (Ned) Cannondale-DrapacRow 7 - Cell 2
9Mitch Docker (Aus) Orica-ScottRow 8 - Cell 2
10Florian Senechal (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 9 - Cell 2
11Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto SoudalRow 10 - Cell 2
12Matti Breschel (Den) Astana Pro TeamRow 11 - Cell 2
13Maxime Vantomme (Bel) WB Veranclassic Aqua ProtectRow 12 - Cell 2
14Jean-Pierre Drucker (Lux) BMC Racing TeamRow 13 - Cell 2
15Lukas Pöstlberger (Aut) Bora-HansgroheRow 14 - Cell 2
16Mike Teunissen (Ned) Team SunwebRow 15 - Cell 2
17Stefan Küng (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 16 - Cell 2
18Baptiste Planckaert (Bel) Katusha-AlpecinRow 17 - Cell 2
19Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) Cannondale-DrapacRow 18 - Cell 2
20Marco Marcato (Ita) UAE Team EmiratesRow 19 - Cell 2
21Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Quick-Step FloorsRow 20 - Cell 2
22Maarten Wynants (Bel) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 21 - Cell 2
23Loïc Vliegen (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 22 - Cell 2
24Reto Hollenstein (Swi) Katusha-AlpecinRow 23 - Cell 2
25Niki Terpstra (Ned) Quick-Step Floors0:01:08
26Gijs Van Hoecke (Bel) Team LottNl-JumboRow 25 - Cell 2
27Mathew Hayman (Aus) Orica-ScottRow 26 - Cell 2
28Sep Vanmarcke (Bel) Cannondale-Drapac0:01:35
29Jelle Wallays (Bel) Lotto Soudal0:01:51
30Michael Matthews (Aus) Team Sunweb0:01:54
31Edward Theuns (Bel) Trek-SegafredoRow 30 - Cell 2
32Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-HansgroheRow 31 - Cell 2
33Pieter Vanspeybrouck (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 32 - Cell 2
34Zakkari Dempster (Aus) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 33 - Cell 2
35Tom Van Asbroeck (Bel) Cannondale-DrapacRow 34 - Cell 2
36Raymond Kreder (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse LoterijRow 35 - Cell 2
37Roy Jans (Bel) WB Veranclassic Aqua ProtectRow 36 - Cell 2
38Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJRow 37 - Cell 2
39Bryan Coquard (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 38 - Cell 2
40Bert Van Lerberghe (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 39 - Cell 2
41Rudy Barbier (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 40 - Cell 2
42Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 41 - Cell 2
43Sacha Modolo (Ita) UAE Team EmiratesRow 42 - Cell 2
44Jasper De Buyst (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 43 - Cell 2
45Ramon Sinkeldam (Ned) Team SunwebRow 44 - Cell 2
46Laurens De Vreese (Bel) Astana Pro TeamRow 45 - Cell 2
47Nikolas Maes (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 46 - Cell 2
48Jasha Sütterlin (Ger) Movistar TeamRow 47 - Cell 2
49Christophe Laporte (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 48 - Cell 2
50Yoann Offredo (Fra) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 49 - Cell 2
51Matthieu Ladagnous (Fra) FDJRow 50 - Cell 2
52Nils Politt (Ger) Katusha-AlpecinRow 51 - Cell 2
53Sonny Colbrelli (Ita) Bahrain-MeridaRow 52 - Cell 2
54Gediminas Bagdonas (Ltu) AG2R La MondialeRow 53 - Cell 2
55Pim Ligthart (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse LoterijRow 54 - Cell 2
56Luka Pibernik (Slo) Bahrain-MeridaRow 55 - Cell 2
57Iljo Keisse (Bel) Quick-Step FloorsRow 56 - Cell 2
58Roger Kluge (Ger) Orica-ScottRow 57 - Cell 2
59Frederik Backaert (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 58 - Cell 2
60Kenneth Van Rooy (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 59 - Cell 2
61Maxime Farazijn (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 60 - Cell 2
62Hugo Houle (Can) AG2R La MondialeRow 61 - Cell 2
63Truls Korsaeth (Nor) Astana Pro TeamRow 62 - Cell 2
64Marko Kump (Slo) UAE Team EmiratesRow 63 - Cell 2
65Huub Duijn (Ned) Veranda's Willems CrelanRow 64 - Cell 2
66Kevyn Ista (Bel) WB Veranclassic Aqua ProtectRow 65 - Cell 2
67Martin Elmiger (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 66 - Cell 2
68Alexandre Pichot (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 67 - Cell 2
69Bert De Backer (Bel) Team SunwebRow 68 - Cell 2
70Stijn Devolder (Bel) Veranda's Willems CrelanRow 69 - Cell 2
71Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 70 - Cell 2
72Adrien Petit (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 71 - Cell 2
73Preben Van Hecke (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 72 - Cell 2
74Christopher Juul Jensen (Den) Orica-ScottRow 73 - Cell 2
75Edward Planckaert (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 74 - Cell 2
76Vegard Stake Laengen (Nor) UAE Team EmiratesRow 75 - Cell 2
77Oscar Gatto (Ita) Astana Pro TeamRow 76 - Cell 2
78Jens Debusschere (Bel) Lotto Soudal0:02:02
79Lars Boom (Ned) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 78 - Cell 2
80Alberto Bettiol (Ita) Cannondale-DrapacRow 79 - Cell 2
81Fabio Felline (Ita) Trek-SegafredoRow 80 - Cell 2
82Dylan Teuns (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 81 - Cell 2
83Jens Keukeleire (Bel) Orica-ScottRow 82 - Cell 2
84Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 83 - Cell 2
85Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 84 - Cell 2
86Dries Devenyns (Bel) Quick-Step FloorsRow 85 - Cell 2
87Dmitriy Gruzdev (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRow 86 - Cell 2
88Dimitri Claeys (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 87 - Cell 2
89Borut Bozic (Slo) Bahrain-MeridaRow 88 - Cell 2
90Fernando Gaviria (Col) Quick-Step FloorsRow 89 - Cell 2
91Aleksejs Saramotins (Lat) Bora-Hansgrohe0:02:08
92Simone Consonni (Ita) UAE Team EmiratesRow 91 - Cell 2
93Rüdiger Selig (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe0:02:13
94Ivan Garcia (Spa) Bahrain-Merida0:04:32
95Twan Castelijns (Ned) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 94 - Cell 2
96Marco Coledan (Ita) Trek-SegafredoRow 95 - Cell 2
97Francisco Ventoso (Spa) BMC Racing TeamRow 96 - Cell 2
98Jimmy Turgis (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 97 - Cell 2
99Mads Würtz Schmidt (Den) Katusha-AlpecinRow 98 - Cell 2
100Igor Boev (Rus) Gazprom – RusveloRow 99 - Cell 2
101Guillaume Boivin (Can) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 100 - Cell 2
102Dennis Van Winden (Ned) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 101 - Cell 2
103Carlos Barbero (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 102 - Cell 2
104Aleksei Tcatevich (Rus) Gazprom – RusveloRow 103 - Cell 2
105Kenneth Vanbilsen (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 104 - Cell 2
106Jorge Arcas Peña (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 105 - Cell 2
107Christoph Pfingsten (Ger) Bora-HansgroheRow 106 - Cell 2
108Nuno Bico (Por) Movistar TeamRow 107 - Cell 2
109Taco Van Der Hoorn (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse LoterijRow 108 - Cell 2
110Loic Chetout (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 109 - Cell 2
111Dries De Bondt (Bel) Veranda's Willems CrelanRow 110 - Cell 2
112Ryan Mullen (Irl) Cannondale-DrapacRow 111 - Cell 2
113Juraj Sagan (Svk) Bora-HansgroheRow 112 - Cell 2
114Simone Antonini (Ita) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 113 - Cell 2
115Ryan Anderson (Can) Direct EnergieRow 114 - Cell 2
116Nans Peters (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 115 - Cell 2
117Romain Cardis (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 116 - Cell 2
118Jenthe Biermans (Bel) Katusha-AlpecinRow 117 - Cell 2
119Mickael Delage (Fra) FDJRow 118 - Cell 2
120Olivier Le Gac (Fra) FDJRow 119 - Cell 2
121Ruslan Tleubayev (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRow 120 - Cell 2
122Krists Neilands (Lat) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 121 - Cell 2
123Mihkel Räim (Est) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 122 - Cell 2
124Daniel Turek (Cze) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 123 - Cell 2
125Marcel Sieberg (Ger) Lotto SoudalRow 124 - Cell 2
126Alex Kirsch (Lux) WB Veranclassic Aqua ProtectRow 125 - Cell 2
127Julien Stassen (Bel) WB Veranclassic Aqua ProtectRow 126 - Cell 2
128Alexander Porsev (Rus) Gazprom – RusveloRow 127 - Cell 2
129Boy van Poppel (Ned) Trek-SegafredoRow 128 - Cell 2
130Wesley Kreder (Ned) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 129 - Cell 2
131Carlos Betancur (Col) Movistar TeamRow 130 - Cell 2
132Thomas Scully (NZl) Cannondale-DrapacRow 131 - Cell 2
133Timo Roosen (Ned) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 132 - Cell 2
134Héctor Carretero (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 133 - Cell 2
135Jérôme Baugnies (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 134 - Cell 2
136Coen Vermeltfoort (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse LoterijRow 135 - Cell 2
137Tom Stamsnijder (Ned) Team SunwebRow 136 - Cell 2
138Antonio Pedrero (Spa) Movistar Team0:06:41
139Federico Zurlo (Ita) UAE Team EmiratesRow 138 - Cell 2
140Amund Grondahl Jansen (Nor) Team LottoNl-Jumbo0:07:53
141Floris Gerts (Ned) BMC Racing Team0:08:44
142Andrea Guardini (Ita) UAE Team EmiratesRow 141 - Cell 2
143Michaël Van Staeyen (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 142 - Cell 2
144Tim Declercq (Bel) Quick-Step FloorsRow 143 - Cell 2
145Robert Wagner (Ger) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 144 - Cell 2
146Sander Cordeel (Bel) Veranda's Willems CrelanRow 145 - Cell 2
147Tom Bohli (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 146 - Cell 2
148Kevin Deltombe (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 147 - Cell 2
149Riccardo Minali (Ita) Astana Pro TeamRow 148 - Cell 2
150Mads Pedersen (Den) Trek-SegafredoRow 149 - Cell 2
151Brian Van Goethem (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse LoterijRow 150 - Cell 2
152Oliviero Troia (Ita) UAE Team EmiratesRow 151 - Cell 2
153Jonas Rickaert (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 152 - Cell 2
154Zico Waeytens (Bel) Team SunwebRow 153 - Cell 2
155Pavel Brutt (Rus) Gazprom – Rusvelo0:10:21
156Yohann Gene (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 155 - Cell 2
157Nico Denz (Ger) AG2R La MondialeRow 156 - Cell 2
158Nikolay Trusov (Rus) Gazprom – RusveloRow 157 - Cell 2
159Erik Baska (Svk) Bora-HansgroheRow 158 - Cell 2
160Jesper Asselman (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse LoterijRow 159 - Cell 2
161Dayer Quintana (Col) Movistar TeamRow 160 - Cell 2
162Niccolo Bonifazio (Ita) Bahrain-MeridaRow 161 - Cell 2
DNFWouter Wippert (Ned) Cannondale-DrapacRow 162 - Cell 2
DNFLaurent Didier (Lux) Trek-SegafredoRow 163 - Cell 2
DNFKiel Reijnen (USA) Trek-SegafredoRow 164 - Cell 2
DNFFumiyuki Beppu (Jpn) Trek-SegafredoRow 165 - Cell 2
DNFCaleb Ewan (Aus) Orica-ScottRow 166 - Cell 2
DNFRoy Curvers (Ned) Team SunwebRow 167 - Cell 2
DNFAlbert Timmer (Ned) Team SunwebRow 168 - Cell 2
DNFJacopo Guarnieri (Ita) FDJRow 169 - Cell 2
DNFLorenzo Manzin (Fra) FDJRow 170 - Cell 2
DNFMarc Fournier (Fra) FDJRow 171 - Cell 2
DNFMarc Sarreau (Fra) FDJRow 172 - Cell 2
DNFJulien Duval (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 173 - Cell 2
DNFSondre Holst Enger (Nor) AG2R La MondialeRow 174 - Cell 2
DNFChun Kai Feng (Tpe) Bahrain-MeridaRow 175 - Cell 2
DNFIon Insausti (Spa) Bahrain-MeridaRow 176 - Cell 2
DNFDavid Per (Slo) Bahrain-MeridaRow 177 - Cell 2
DNFViacheslav Kuznetsov (Rus) Katusha-AlpecinRow 178 - Cell 2
DNFMarco Mathis (Ger) Katusha-AlpecinRow 179 - Cell 2
DNFRick Zabel (Ger) Katusha-AlpecinRow 180 - Cell 2
DNFMichal Kolár (Svk) Bora-HansgroheRow 181 - Cell 2
DNFAntoine Duchesne (Can) Direct EnergieRow 182 - Cell 2
DNFKevin Van Melsen (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 183 - Cell 2
DNFStijn Steels (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 184 - Cell 2
DNFSjoerd Van Ginneken (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse LoterijRow 185 - Cell 2
DNFTimothy Dupont (Bel) Veranda's Willems CrelanRow 186 - Cell 2
DNFMichael Goolaerts (Bel) Veranda's Willems CrelanRow 187 - Cell 2
DNFAidis Kruopis (Ltu) Veranda's Willems CrelanRow 188 - Cell 2
DNFElias Van Breussegem (Bel) Veranda's Willems CrelanRow 189 - Cell 2
DNFRoman Maikin (Rus) Gazprom – RusveloRow 190 - Cell 2
DNFIvan Savitskiy (Rus) Gazprom – RusveloRow 191 - Cell 2
DNFAndrei Solomennikov (Rus) Gazprom – RusveloRow 192 - Cell 2
DNFBenjamin Perry (Can) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 193 - Cell 2
DNFGuy Sagiv (Isr) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 194 - Cell 2
DNFLudwig De Winter (Bel) WB Veranclassic Aqua ProtectRow 195 - Cell 2
DNFLawrence Naesen (Bel) WB Veranclassic Aqua ProtectRow 196 - Cell 2
DNFThomas Deruette (Bel) WB Veranclassic Aqua ProtectRow 197 - Cell 2

Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*

Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets

After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59

Join now for unlimited access

Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Latest on Cyclingnews