Tim Merlier won the Belgian championships for the second time by narrowly winning the sprint ahead of Jordi Meeus et Jasper Philipsen at the end of a crazy race that saw many racing moves.
The race starts strong and we find a nice group of 14 runners in front following a few inconclusive attack attempts, in particular from Victor Campenaerts. In these 14, we find some solid runners including Oliver Naesen, Quinten Hermans, Brent Van Moer or Gianni Vermeersch.
At just under 80km, the group is reduced to six units and the peloton is back to regarding twenty seconds. A peloton in which a fall occurs causing Edward Theuns, Tim Merlier et Jasper Philipsen on the ground and slowing down Tiesj Benoot. The two sprinters from Alpecin-Fenix and the rider from the Jumbo Visma still manage to get into the peloton.
The big names take matters into their own hands and the peloton is gradually reduced. Stuyven et lampaert try to blow up the race 75km from the finish but fail to create a gap. Vanmarcke in turn accelerates a group of fifteen runners takes a few meters ahead.
We are witnessing a real movement race with many attempts at acceleration. Sep Vanmarcke tries his luck once more regarding fifty kilometers from the finish and is joined by a group of ten riders with Philipsen, Serry, Vermeersch and Stuyven who has a 1 minute lead at around thirty kilometers from the finish.
Just over 20km from the finish, the two pelotons regroup and with the contribution of the vice forces, the gap drops and falls back to 40 seconds when Jasper Philipsen suffers a mechanical problem.
In front Stuyven and Vanmarcke try to start with two at the start of the last lap when the peloton is only 20 seconds away. Remco Evenepoel accelerates 7km from the finish while the two leading men are in their sights and gets back in the wheel of Stuyven and Vanmarcke. Julian Mertens manages to make the connection. 5km from the finish, Evenepoel accelerates once more and takes a few meters lead but Vanmarcke manages to bring the rest of the group back.
The organization is not good and the peloton takes back the four men under the impulse of Lotto Soudal.
The victory will be decided in the sprint and for the second time in his career, it is Tim Merlier who wins and becomes Belgian champion. He had to be decided at the photo-finish with Jordi Meeus who takes second place. Jasper Philipsen is third. Arnaud DeLie was too locked up and mightn’t do better than a sixth place.
