One-day racing in Belgian returned for the peloton and a route that looked destined to end in a bunch sprint finish, due to the wind not being strong enough to cause echelons. Team dsm-firmenich PostNL set out with the plan to help control the day, staying safe as a team and looking to set up fast finisher Fabio Jakobsen for the finale in Lichtervelde. Doing just that, the team rode strongly to reel in the break of seven and coming into the last five kilometres surged forward to bring Jakobsen into position for what was the hectic finale. Peeling off one-by-one, last lead-out man Bram Welten dropped Jakobsen off in a good wheel around the last corner so he could open up his sprint in sight of the line. Kicking hard, a slight issue forced Jakobsen to sit back down in the saddle in the sprint where he came across the finish line in seventh place.
After the race Welten said: “We rode really well as a team all day and were in position for the key points. It was a very hectic final where we had a clear plan to hit the top ten positions through the corner at around one kilometre to go. We managed that well with commitment from the whole team which was great. I went into the final kilometre with Fabio in my wheel and made my move to position him well to do his sprint. If we keep this up as a team then I’m sure that top result will come soon.”
