For a few years, FDJ have used Halle-Ingooigem to preare for the national championships.

Sports director Martial Gayant led a group of riders of which some still were tired after the Route du Sud but he had nothing to complain about.

It's his trademark and so it was no surprise that David Boucher escaped. In a group of five riders, the prepared for the Belgian Championships. The adventure ended two laps from the end when a group of 31 riders caught them before the peloton made it back to the front.

"In this group there was no rider of the FDJ team but I saw them immediately get to the front and chase to make the junction. We managed it after 30km of a beautiful and fair chase before a crash splut the field," Gayant said.

The sprint was already launched at that point and it occurred just in front of Lorrenzo Manzin who had to stop his effort. He finished sixteenth and had lots of regrets because he had good legs.