Joeaar wins Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen

Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) soloed to victory in Ichtegem to win the final stage at the Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen. Overnight race leader and prologue time trial winner Gert Joeaar (Cofidis, Solutions Credits) sealed the general classification victory, albeit with a bit of a scare from Van Keirsbulck who fell three seconds short of unseating the Estonian once the stage winner's time bonus and winning margin were factored in.

Van Keirsbulck had bridged to a breakaway with less than 23km remaining in the 186km stage from Nieuwport to Ichtegem and then jumped away in a solo attack 5km from the finish. The 23-year-old Belgian started the day 14 seconds behind GC leader Joeaar, and with a 10-second bonus for the stage winner up for grabs he not only sought the stage win but overall victory as well.

Van Keirsbulck did manage to score his first win since the latter part of the 2011 season as he held off a 31-rider chase group by a scant one second, but with Joeaar crossing the line as part of that group the 26-year-old Estonian managed to hang on to the leader's jersey he'd earned on the first stage on Friday. Johan Le Bon (FDJ.fr), second to Joeaar in the prologue time trial by five seconds, was bumped down to third on the final general classification by Van Keirsbulck.

In addition to winning the final stage and earning a spot on the GC podium, the Omega Pharma-QuickStep Belgian also claimed the young rider classification as well as the best West-Vlaamse rider classification.

"I am really happy to finally grab a victory," Van Keirsbulck said. "The last 500 meters I was really suffering because there was also a headwind. I was a bit scared that they would catch me, but I made it to the line.

"I was really happy I had also the time to celebrate. I am happy also because my condition is very good. The entire year I've been riding well. I had a good feeling this season even if I have a back problem I am trying to solve. It's nice that all the work I've done is paying off now.

"It's my first victory of the season, but also the first time I've won in two years. So, I really want to enjoy this victory. It's a pity that I lost the GC by a few seconds, but today let me enjoy my stage win in front of my public in West-Vlaanderen."