Keukeleire crowned king of Le Samyn

Jens Keukeleire (Cofidis) unleashed a wily sprint to win Belgian one-day race Le Samyn on Wednesday. The young Belgian avoided the tussle behind as he shot up the left-hand side of the road to win by a bike length over Gregory Joseph (Topsport Vlaanderen) and Cédric Pineau (Equipe Roubaix Lille Metropole).

Despite its sprint finale, the 191.9-kilometre race had been marked a long break. Five riders got away and had held a lead of five minutes with 75 kilometres to go, but the gap was dropping rapidly. With 65 km to go, and a 3:35 lead, three of the riders grew anxious and launched a pre-emptive strike; Steve Chainel (BBox Bouygues Telecom), Fabrice Jeandesboz (Saur-Sojasun) and Jean Zen (Palmans-Cras) the riders to go away.

Behind them, there were multiple attacks out of the rapidly moving peloton, but none was able to establish itself. After the escape group split, the gap began to stabilise once more, but the lead trio never really had a chance to stay away to the end.

With 25 kilometres to go, the attack was over. A Saxo Bank rider used the opportunity to try and get away, but he too was caught. After a series of solo attempts to avoid a mass sprint an 11-strong group showed promise but was only able to maintain a slight lead and was once more drawn back into the fold.

Remi Cusin (Cofidis) and Guillaume Levarlet (Saur- Sojasun) were the next to go, at the 18 kilometre marker, and behind them the peloton temporarily splintered under the high tempo. After forcing a concerted chase, the two finally roped in with only five kilometres to go. Marcus Eichler (Milram) jumped and passed the two leaders moments before they were caught by the main field.

Eichler's challenge faded as Saxo Bank led a now reduced peloton under the red kite. The race charged up the slight climb to the finish line, but it was Keukeleire that snuck up the left side of the final run-in to take victory by a clear margin. 

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Full Results
1Jens Keukeleire (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne4:34:35
2Grégory Joseph (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 1 - Cell 2
3Cédric Pineau (Fra) Roubaix Lille MetropoleRow 2 - Cell 2
4Yauheni Hutarovich (Blr) Française Des JeuxRow 3 - Cell 2
5Kristof Goddaert (Bel) AG2R La MondialeRow 4 - Cell 2
6Marco Marcato (Ita) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling TeamRow 5 - Cell 2
7Jonas Aaen Jörgensen (Den) Team Saxo BankRow 6 - Cell 2
8Steven Tronet (Fra) Roubaix Lille MetropoleRow 7 - Cell 2
9Lloyd Mondory (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 8 - Cell 2
10Steven Caethoven (Bel) LandbouwkredietRow 9 - Cell 2
11Kalle Kriit (Est) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 10 - Cell 2
12Rony Martias (Fra) Saur-SojasunRow 11 - Cell 2
13Yohann Gene (Fra) BBox Bouygues TelecomRow 12 - Cell 2
14Christophe Kern (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 13 - Cell 2
15Fabien Bacquet (Fra) Big Mat - Auber 93Row 14 - Cell 2
16Arnaud Molmy (Fra) Roubaix Lille MetropoleRow 15 - Cell 2
17Danilo Wyss (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 16 - Cell 2
18Nico Sijmens (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 17 - Cell 2
19Anthony Ravard (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 18 - Cell 2
20Julien Berard (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 19 - Cell 2
21Gorik Gardeyn (Bel) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling TeamRow 20 - Cell 2
22Renaud Dion (Fra) Roubaix Lille MetropoleRow 21 - Cell 2
23Johnny Hoogerland (Ned) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling TeamRow 22 - Cell 2
24Maarten Neyens (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 23 - Cell 2
25Stefan Van Dijk (Ned) Verandas WillemsRow 24 - Cell 2
26Julien Simon (Fra) Saur-Sojasun0:00:07
27André Steensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank0:00:10
28Wilfried Cretskens (Bel) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 27 - Cell 2
29Christophe Brandt (Bel) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 28 - Cell 2
30Jocelyn Bar (Fra) Roubaix Lille MetropoleRow 29 - Cell 2
31Edwig Cammaerts (Bel) Lotto - BodysolRow 30 - Cell 2
32Jonas Vangenechten (Bel) Verandas WillemsRow 31 - Cell 2
33Jonathan Dufrasne (Bel) Qin Cycling TeamRow 32 - Cell 2
34Mario Aerts (Bel) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 33 - Cell 2
35Gregory Habeaux (Bel) Verandas WillemsRow 34 - Cell 2
36Martin Kohler (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 35 - Cell 2
37Jérémy Roy (Fra) Française Des JeuxRow 36 - Cell 2
38Paul Voss (Ger) Team MilramRow 37 - Cell 2
39Björn Leukemans (Bel) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team0:00:17
40Laurent Didier (Lux) Team Saxo BankRow 39 - Cell 2
41Kristof Vandewalle (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 40 - Cell 2
42Kenny Van Hummel (Ned) Skil - Shimano0:00:23
43Yukiya Arashiro (Jpn) BBox Bouygues TelecomRow 42 - Cell 2
44Tom Vanbecelaere (Bel) Palmans - CrasRow 43 - Cell 2
45Nadir Haddou (Fra) Big Mat - Auber 93Row 44 - Cell 2
46Simon Zahner (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 45 - Cell 2
47Jonathan Thire (Fra) Big Mat - Auber 93Row 46 - Cell 2
48Bart Dockx (Bel) LandbouwkredietRow 47 - Cell 2
49Clément Lhotellerie (Fra) Roubaix Lille MetropoleRow 48 - Cell 2
50Damien Gaudin (Fra) BBox Bouygues TelecomRow 49 - Cell 2
51Stijn Neirynck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 50 - Cell 2
52Tim Mertens (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 51 - Cell 2
53Sébastien Delfosse (Bel) LandbouwkredietRow 52 - Cell 2
54Steve Houanard (Fra) Skil - ShimanoRow 53 - Cell 2
55Tristan Valentin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 54 - Cell 2
56James Spragg (GBr) Qin Cycling TeamRow 55 - Cell 2
57Frédéric Amorison (Bel) LandbouwkredietRow 56 - Cell 2
58David Boucher (Fra) LandbouwkredietRow 57 - Cell 2
59Robert Förster (Ger) Team MilramRow 58 - Cell 2
60Romain Zingle (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 59 - Cell 2
61Romain Lemarchand (Fra) Big Mat - Auber 93Row 60 - Cell 2
62Olivier Kaisen (Bel) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 61 - Cell 2
63Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Arg) Team Saxo BankRow 62 - Cell 2
64Mathieu Claude (Fra) BBox Bouygues TelecomRow 63 - Cell 2
65Rémi Cusin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 64 - Cell 2
66Ben Gastauer (Lux) AG2R La MondialeRow 65 - Cell 2
67Guillaume Levarlet (Fra) Saur-SojasunRow 66 - Cell 2
68Blel Kadri (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 67 - Cell 2
69Kevin Van Melsen (Bel) Verandas WillemsRow 68 - Cell 2
70Karsten Kroon (Ned) BMC Racing TeamRow 69 - Cell 2
71Timothy Vangheel (Bel) Palmans - CrasRow 70 - Cell 2
72Guillaume Blot (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 71 - Cell 2
73Matheus Pronk (Ned) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team0:00:41
74Robin Chaigneau (Ned) Skil - Shimano0:00:45
75Jaroslaw Marycz (Pol) Team Saxo BankRow 74 - Cell 2
76Anders Lund (Den) Team Saxo BankRow 75 - Cell 2
77Benoit Daeninck (Fra) Roubaix Lille Metropole0:00:59
78Perrig Quemeneur (Fra) BBox Bouygues TelecomRow 77 - Cell 2
79Geert Omloop (Bel) Palmans - Cras0:01:04
80Geert Verheyen (Bel) LandbouwkredietRow 79 - Cell 2
81Thibaut Pinot (Fra) Française Des JeuxRow 80 - Cell 2
82Arthur Vichot (Fra) Française Des JeuxRow 81 - Cell 2
83Ingmar De Poortere (Bel) Qin Cycling TeamRow 82 - Cell 2
84Adam Blythe (GBr) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 83 - Cell 2
85Stéphane Poulhies (Fra) Saur-Sojasun0:01:26
86Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Française Des JeuxRow 85 - Cell 2
87Olivier Bonnaire (Fra) Française Des JeuxRow 86 - Cell 2
88Cedric Coutouly (Fra) Saur-SojasunRow 87 - Cell 2
89Markus Eichler (Ger) Team Milram0:01:33
90Wim De Vocht (Bel) Team Milram0:01:45
91Alexander Kristoff (Nor) BMC Racing Team0:01:53
92Rob Goris (Bel) Palmans - Cras0:04:30
93Dirk Bellemakers (Ned) LandbouwkredietRow 92 - Cell 2
94Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 93 - Cell 2
95Julien Mazet (Fra) Big Mat - Auber 93Row 94 - Cell 2
96Chad Beyer (USA) BMC Racing TeamRow 95 - Cell 2
97Egidijus Juodvalkis (Ltu) Palmans - CrasRow 96 - Cell 2
98Romain Matheou (Fra) Saur-SojasunRow 97 - Cell 2
99Thomas Fothen (Ger) Team MilramRow 98 - Cell 2
100Sandy Casar (Fra) Française Des JeuxRow 99 - Cell 2
101David Deroo (Fra) Skil - ShimanoRow 100 - Cell 2
102Robert Retschke (Ger) Continental Team Differdange0:05:39
103Morgan Kneisky (Fra) Roubaix Lille MetropoleRow 102 - Cell 2
104Saïd Haddou (Fra) BBox Bouygues Telecom0:05:46
105Mitchell Docker (Aus) Skil - ShimanoRow 104 - Cell 2
106Wim Van Huffel (Bel) Team Worldofbike.grRow 105 - Cell 2
107Michael Morkov (Den) Team Saxo Bank0:11:56
108Fabrice Jeandesboz (Fra) Saur-SojasunRow 107 - Cell 2

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