Tim De Troyer got close to his first professional victory when he finished second in the GP Stad Zottegem. With no contract for the coming season, the Belgian lamented a lost opportunity that could have helped him secure his future in the professional peloton.

Tim De Troyer is one of many riders that haven't signed a contract for the coming season and like many of his colleagues, he is targeting results in the second half of the year to secure his future. Today he got close to a big win when he finished second in the GP Stad Zottegem.

De Troyer found himself in a difficult situation as he was up against the Topsport pair of Zico Waeytens and eventual winner Edward Theuns. Having been beaten in the final sprint, the Wanty rider was disappointed as he felt he had the legs to win.

"I think there was way to do better," he told Directvelo. "I was surprised in the sprint. In the last turn, I left a gap and then it was over. It was not easy with the two guys from Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise but I think I was strong enough to beat them. 

"I have just done the Tour of Denmark and the Eneco Tour so I'm used to the competition from the WorldTour riders. At this level, I was able to be in the finale. I'm pretty disappointed. 

"I still have nothing concrete for next year so it would have been a great help. I wish I can win a 1.1 race before the end of the year, something like the GP Jef Scherens. For the rest, I have to do the best in every race. My next race will be in Veenendaal and the GP de la Ville de Geraardsbergen."

"In the end, it's a beautiful day because we did not field out best team since Laurens de Vreese was sick," sports director Hilaire van der Schueren said. "I told my riders that a break could take offearly in the race. This is what happened. 

"Tim may have made ​​a small mistake in his sprint but it was not easy to win two against one. I am delighted with this second place. We also took advantage of Kenny Dehaes' crash in the finale, as he could very well have won the race. 

"Regarding the exclusion of Alexander Maes, it's pretty stupid. He had a mechanical problem. He had to change bikes. We were behind a commissaire and we just followedhim . Unfortunately, the commissaire took a wrong turn and so we did too. Then the jury disqualified our rider."