Arnaud Démare takes win number three of first pro season as yellow jersey passes from one Omega Pharma-Quick Step rider to another
Julien Vermote (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) took his first victory as a professional, as he secured the overall classification of the Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen - Johan Museeuw Classics. The 21-year-old Belgian profited from teammate, and previous race leader Michal Kwiatkowski’s inability to stay with the peloton on the three laps of a hilly 11km finishing circuit at the end of the second and final stage between Nieuwpoort and Ichtegem.
The wet and windy 186.5km stage was won by World under-23 champion Arnaud Démare (FDJ-BigMat), taking the third victory of his first pro-season, ahead of Alexander Porsev (Katusha) and Kenny van Hummel (Vacansoleil-DCM), after a large breakaway group was pulled back with 26km to go.
The pace set by the peloton was too much for Kwiatkowski, who left the fight for the overall to teammates Vermote, and Guillaume Van Keirsbulcke, who started the day in fourth place. Unfortunately for the latter, a puncture with just four kilometres to go saw him also lose contact with the peloton, but Vermote finished safely in the front group to secure victory.
"I really didn’t expect to win the race," said Vermote. "I’m really sad for Michal, he didn’t win only because of bad luck; but we are a fantastic team here, everybody sacrificed themselves for the team result.
“In any case I’m happy I can prove my skills,” he continued. “Last year was hard for me but [team manager Patrick] Lefevere and the team left me relaxed. They were always confident in me, which is the best thing for a young rider as me. It was also nice to win in my home country; a special emotion, you can believe me! Tomorrow I will leave to South Africa for the Cape Argus Cycle Tour. I think I will really enjoy my trip after this victory"
After a flurry of early attacks, David Boucher (FDJ-BigMat), Aitor Galdos (Caja Rural), Julien Bérard (AG2R La Mondiale), Stijn Neirynck (Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator), Christopher Juul Jensen (Saxo Bank), Baptiste Planckaert (Landbouwkrediet-Euphony) and Andy Cappelle (Accent Jobs-Willems Vérandas) escaped at the 15km point. The seven-man group was able to open up a lead of up to 4’30” on the long opening loop, which took in the Gent-Wevelgem climbs of the Monteberg and the Kemmelberg.
After the top of the mythical cobbled climb the peloton steadily reeled them in but, with 45km to go, before they could be captured, ten more riders counterattacked and joined them at the front of the race.
In this group were a number of the overall classification leaders, including Van Keirsbulck, with Omega Pharma-Quick Step teammates Mattéo Trentin and Andy Fenn, along with Tyler Farrar and Jack Bauer (both Garmin-Barracuda).
Van Keirsbulck was now the leader on the road, with second place behind Fenn as they crossed the finish line for the first time, adding to his security. The peloton was all together before the end of the first lap however, but Kwiatkowski was nowhere to be seen.
"It was really a terrible day due to the weather conditions," Vermote explained. "When the group broke into two parts I remained behind with Michal. When I realized that Michal could lose the race I put him in my wheel and we made a terrific effort to come back; we went really fast.
“When we were really nearly to close the gap, Michal crashed in a roundabout,” he continued. “At that point I had no choice and I went alone. On the road I found Francesco Chicchi and Matthew Brammeier who helped me to complete the chase. Then the guys were super. Guillaume and Andy Fenn worked hard controlling the race and in the last part of the race, Matteo Trentin controlled everything. He was super strong.”
With the peloton back all together again, it was controlled by the Omega Pharma-Quick Step team, and none of the inevitable attacks could get away. By the time it reached the finishing straight it was down to just 56 riders however, where Démare showed his early season speed once again.