Meeus wins Primus Classic as late crash splits the bunch

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Bora-Hansgrohe rider beats Demare and Kanter to the line from group of 14

HAACHT BELGIUM SEPTEMBER 17 Jordi Meeus of Belgium and Team Bora Hansgrohe celebrates at finish line as stage winner during the 12th Primus Classic 2022 a 1993km one day race from Brakel to Haacht on September 17 2022 in Haacht Belgium Photo by Luc ClaessenGetty Images
Meeus wins the Primus Classic (Image credit: Getty Images)

Jordi Meeus (Bora-Hansgrohe) won the 2022 Primus Classic, sprinting to victory from a 14-man group created by a late crash. 

The Belgian rider got the better of Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ) in a grinding sprint to the line after a wet 200km in the saddle. 

Max Kanter (Movistar) claimed the final podium spot. 

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The race appeared to be heading for a full bunch sprint until it was turned on its head with just 2.1km to go. With roads slippery with the recent rainfall, a Movistar rider slid out through a right-hand bend, and the peloton was split in two. 

Up front, only 14 riders remained, with Meeus and Démare left to battle it out without the likes of Fabio Jakobsen (QuickStep-AlphaVinyl) and Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck).

Démare's teammate led out the sprint and, after searching for daylight, Meeus hit out and set about clawing his way in front. It took him a while, but he finally nudged his wheel in front in the final 30 metres, just in time. 

"I kind of stalled but in the final 50 metres he kind of stalled as well," Meeus said. "I'm really happy to take this victory. 

"In the last 20 minutes it really started to rain, making the road slippery. We had that crash but I was in about fifth position through that corner and they started to go down from position seven or eight, and I was in the perfect place. Ide Schelling piloted me to perfection in the final two kilometres, and when Démare started his sprint I could match it." 

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Patrick Fletcher
Patrick Fletcher
Deputy Editor

Patrick is an NCTJ-accredited journalist with a bachelor’s degree in modern languages (French and Spanish) and a decade’s experience in digital sports media, largely within the world of cycling. He re-joined Cyclingnews as Deputy Editor in February 2026, having previously spent eight years on staff between 2015 and 2023. In between, he was Deputy Editor at GCN and spent 18 months working across the sports portfolio at Future before returning to the cycling press pack. Patrick works across Cyclingnews’ wide-ranging output, assisting the Editor in global content strategy, with a particular focus on shaping CN's news operation.

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