Dehaes triumphs at Handzame Classic

Image 1 of 13

Kenny Dehaes (Lotto Belisol) has won his second race of the 2013 season with a sprint victory today at the Handzame Classic. Vacansoleil-DCM teammates Kenny van Hummel and Danny van Poppel completed the podium in Handzame for the Dutch WorldTour squad, still in search of its first win of the year.

Amidst steady rain and near freezing temperatures, the day's main breakaway formed after approximately 70km of racing with five riders going clear: William Clarke (Argos-Shimano), Jonas Van Genechten (Lotto Belisol), Youcef Reguigui (MTN-Qhubeka), Sean De Bie (Leopard-Trek Continental Team) and Kess Heytens (Team 3M).

The five-man lead group extended its lead to more than four minutes on the 16km finishing circuit comprising the bulk of the race's 190km distance, completed 10 times in Handzame.

Blanco Pro Cycling and NetApp-Endura set the tempo in the peloton and steadily reduced the break's lead, cutting their advantage to three minutes with 71km remaining and then two minutes with 45km to the finish.

Meanwhile, the unity of the break fractured with Van Genechten attacking his four companions. Heytens found himself in trouble and lost contact for good, while Clarke, Reguigui and De Bie made their way back to the Lotto Belisol Belgian.

Entering the final 16km circuit the four leaders held a tentative 22-second lead and soon after hearing the bell for one lap to go the break split under the impetus of Van Genechten - Clarke and De Bie were quickly absorbed by the peloton while Van Genechten and Reguigui pushed onwards. The duo's flight lasted until 12km to go when they, too, were brought back into the fray.

Shortly afterwards, however, a counter-attack formed comprised of Bert Grabsch (Omega Pharma-Quick Step), Wesley Kreder (Vacansoleil-DCM) and Alphonse Vermote (An Post-ChainReaction). This trio's lead reached 22 seconds with six kilometres remaining, but the sprinters' teams brought the escape group back into the fold inside the final kilometre, setting up a field sprint finale to decide the race's winner.

Full Results