Cycling: Bryan Coquard (Vital Concept) won the final stage of this year's Belgium Tour. In extremely adverse conditions with heavy rain and correspondingly complicated road conditions, the Frenchman prevailed in the final against Christophe Laporte (Cofidis) and Roy Jans (Cibel-Cebon). André Greipel (Lotto Soudal), who had dominated the previous sprints of the Tour, finished eighth. Overall victory went to his Belgian teammate Jens Keukeleire.
Coquard fastest in the rain
At the end of the Belgium Tour, probably everyone was expecting another stage win by Andre Greipel. The three-time German champion has already had two victories. At first everything looked like another sovereign performance from Greipel in the final: As so often before, his team prepared the sprint perfectly, but the German was alone in the wind very early on. Gradually, seven other drivers were able to push past him. was the fastest Bryan Coquard. The Frenchman snatched victory from his compatriot at the very last moment Christophe Laporte.
Lotto Soudal dominates the Belgium Tour
Nachdem André Greipel Having already been successful twice at the Santos Tour Down Under and the Four Days of Dunkirk, the German has now also triumphed in Belgium. During the five-day tour, Greipel was the clear favorite in the sprints. Due to the strong winds and numerous attacks, however, it was not a matter of course that there would ultimately be mass sprints. However, his strong team Lotto Soudal really wanted to be successful at home – and they succeeded. André Greipel won the mass sprint in Buggenhout right at the start and only one day later in Knokke-Heist - even with a flat rear tire. Both times Lotto Soudal's high pace made for a long field and a very tough sprint in which the winner could only be André Greipel.
Thanks to his two victories at the start, André Greipel was the leader in the individual time trial on the third day. The German sprinter presented himself surprisingly well over the 10,7 kilometers, but was still unable to maintain his lead. The Frenchman Christophe Laporte took over the leader's jersey with the first time trial victory of his career. A day later, however, he too had to give it up. On the hilly fourth stage, the Lotto Soudal team dominated the entire race on Saturday and took part Jelle Vanendert and Jens Keukeleire a double win. Due to his strong time trial, Keukeleire slipped into the overall leader's jersey. Since there was another mass sprint at the end of the day today, his lead was no longer in danger.