Today, Jens Debusschere won the first stage in the Tour de l’Eurométropole. About one o’clock the riders started in La Louvière for a ride of 195 km, the longest of four stages. At the end were three local laps of 15,7 km in and around finish town Moorslede. 

After 50 km the break of the day was formed: Amorison (Crelan-Euphony), Goddaert (IAM), Lindeman (Vacansoleil), Mørkøv (Saxo-Tinkoff) and Wallays (Topsport). Mestre (Euskaltel) was originally also part of that group but soon had to let go of the others.

The peloton kept the gap under control. In the final Anthony Delaplace jumped to the front group. In the final lap all got back together and it ended with a bunch sprint. Jens Debusschere won in his home town before Nikolas Maes and Kenneth Vanbilsen. It’s his second pro victory after he won the Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen Koolskamp two weeks ago. Tomorrow he can start in the leader’s jersey.

“It was already very nice that I could win in Koolskamp that late in the season and now I get this second win. I keep being in a good condition. It’s extra fun that I can win in my home town. It couldn’t be better. I’m first in GC, but of course we still have Jürgen Roelandts. We’re with two now for a good GC. It will depend on the race developments how that will end, if the race is decided on a hill or not. But I definitely want to aim for a good result.”

“The beginning of the race was very fast, it took more than an hour before a group could stay ahead. With riders like Marcel Sieberg and Jürgen Roelandts at you’re side you’re always more confident for the sprint. They started pretty early, but none of the teams got next to us. With 200 meters to go I took over from Jürgen. It really was teamwork today. Sander rode at the front of the peloton all day and with the other guys we controlled the final lap. It all went perfectly.”