Michael Vanthourenhout sprints to victory in Ruddervoorde

Michael Vanthourenhout can call himself the first leader of the Telenet Superprestige after a nail-biting race. Despite team tactics and a challenging chase, he beat Joris Nieuwenhuis with a powerful final sprint.

From the start, it was all-out at Ruddervoorde. Niels Vandeputte (Alpecin-Deceuninck Development Team) took the lead and immediately stretched the pack into a line. Laurens Sweeck (Crelan-Corendon) and Felipe Orts (Ridley Racing Team) stayed alert and joined the effort.

After four laps, a large group of about fifteen riders separated from the rest. Emiel Verstrynge (Crelan-Corendon) and Pim Ronhaar (Baloise Glowi Lions) fell one after the other, signaling Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen - Altez Industriebouw CT) to move up to the front. Midway through the race, Joris Nieuwenhuis (Ridley Racing Team) chose his moment. The Dutchman made the most of it while his competitors watched each other and waited. With a lead of about 15 seconds, it seemed the bird had taken flight.

After a strong acceleration from Vanthourenhout and an even stronger surge from Joran Wyseure (Crelan-Corendon), the gap was quickly closed. After seven laps, a quartet led the race, as Toon Aerts (Deschacht-Hens CX Team) had just managed to catch up. Again, the pace at the front slowed briefly, before Sweeck brought a small group back to the front with a strong run through the sand.

Nieuwenhuis found a second wind and returned to the lead, with Vanthourenhout closely on his wheel. In the final lap, Vanthourenhout sprinted past Nieuwenhuis through the sand to take first place—a position he would not relinquish. Nieuwenhuis came alarmingly close in the sprint, but Vanthourenhout finished a strong race in sublime fashion. Niels Vandeputte completed the podium.