Jens Debusschere (Lotto Belisol) continued his fantastic end of the season when he won the traditional season-ending race Nationale Sluitingprijs in his native Belgium. He won the final bunch sprint in a race that was dominated by a very aggressive showing by Argos-Shimano.

It took some time for Jens Debusschere to reveal the true extent of his potential as he struggled to obtain any major results in first two years as a professional with the Lotto team. In the final part of the 2013 season, he has, however, finally shown that he is a great sprinter in the making and today he ended the year on a high by winning the final race in Belgium, Nationale Sluitingprijs.

The traditional flat end-of-season race was dominated by an extremely aggressive Argos-Shimano that launched several attacks in the early part of the race before putting three riders into the 6-rider move that finally went clear. Despite their efforts, it was, however, impossible for them to prevent the expected bunch sprint and the final two escapees, William Clarke and Bert De Backer, were reeled in just as the peloton started the final lap on the 16,69km circuit that was the scene of the race.

With the Argos attacks all neutralized, all was set for a big showdown between the fast finishers and here Debusschere once again proved that he has a great future ahead of him. He took his 4th professional win and so added to the account, he had opened less than a month ago when he won the Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen. Since then he has taken a stage win and the overall victory in the Tour de l'Europmetropole and today's race brought his season to an end in the best possible way. Timothy Dupont (Ventilair) and Reinhardt Janse Van Rensburg (Argos-Shimano) completed the podium.

The race was the final European road race of the season. On Sunday, the GP des Nations time trial will end racing in this part of the world for the 2013 season.

A flat race

The 80th edition of the traditional one-day race Nationale Sluitingsprijs brought the Belgian season to a close on a course that consisted of 11 laps on a flat 16,69km circuit in and around the city of Putte. The race usually ends the year with a big bunch sprint.

The race was off to a very fast start and several attacks were being launched in the early part with the riders covering 47,8km in the first hour. After 17km, William Clarke (Argo-Shimano) was the first to get a small gap and he was chased by Antoine Pirlot (Verandas Willems) and Tom Vermeer (Cyclingteam Jo Piels).

A big group forms

The chase duo was brought back and instead Clarke was joined by Jim Van Den Berg (Koga), Jens Debusschere (Lotto), Bert De Backer (Argos-Shimano), Wesley Kreder (Vacansoleil), Pieter Jacobs (Topsport Vlaanderen), Laurent Evrard (Wallonie), Sjors Roosen (Cyclingteam Jo Piels) and Dennis Smit (Metec). Those 10 riders stayed away for a little while. However, several teams had missed the move and at the 25km mark, the escape was caught.

Tom Stamsnijder (Argos-Shimano) and Kenneth Vanbilsen (Topsport Vlaanderen) countered the move but the duo was brought back by the time, the peloton crossed the line to finish their second lap. Argos-Shimano were, however, very aggressive and constantly launched attacks. When the right 6-rider group finally got clear, the team had no less than 3 riders in the move.

The early break is established

Clarke, De Backer and Ramon Sinkeldam represented the team in the break and were joined by Kris Boeckmans (Vacansoleil), Zico Waeytens (Topsport Vlaanderen) and Johan Coenen (Differdange). For a long time, the sextet dangled 10-20 seconds ahead of the peloton but the elastic finally snapped and at the end of the 4th lap they were 2.15 ahead of the main group. At that point, Rick Van Caldenborgh (Doltcini) and Coen Vermeltfoort (De Rijke) were off in pursuit but they didn't manage to reduce the gap to less than 1.30 and were quickly reeled in.

The peloton now upped the pace and at the 100km mark, they had reduced the gap to 1.20. That forced some of the escapees to react and so the front group split up with Clarke, De Backer and Coenen leaving their companions behind. Sinkeldam, Waeytens and Boeckmans all got caught by the pelootn.

Coenen is dropped

The three leaders managed to build the gap back up to 1.40 but with 4 laps to go, the peloton accelerated. At the 142km mark, the gap was down to just 45 seconds and a few kilometres further up the road, Coenen fell off the pace.

When the front duo passed the lines to start the penultimate lap, the gap was still 35 seconds but the peloton was now chasing hard. At the next passage of the finish line, the break was caught and a big bunch sprint was on the cards. The peloton stayed together on the final lap and finally, Debusschere continued his great run of success by taking his fourth professional win.

Result:

1. Jens Debusschere 4.02.08

2. Timothy Dupont

3. Reinhardt Janse Van Rensburg

4. Boris Valee

5. Michael Van Staeyen

6. Dylan Groenewegen

7. Steven Doms

8. Kevin Suarez

9. Jarl Salomein

10. Wesley Kreder