With the win achieved in a close ohoto finish, Dylan Groenewegen has taken the best victory of his still young career at the Brussels Cycling Classic. Only after detailed examination of the photo finish it was confirmed that the young Dutchman was too fast for Roy Jans (2nd) and Tom Boonen (3rd). Groenewegen gave Roompot Orange Peloton the third win of the debut season of the team.

"This is beautiful," the sprinter. "At the time, I was already sure of my victory. You can feel it yourself and Jans also knocked his handlebar in disappointment. The relief after my first win as a pro (in the Arnhem Veenendaal Classic) might have been greater, but here I surely add my name to some big ones," he added, referring to the nearly hundred year history of what was previously called Paris-Brussels. Top riders like Greipel, McEwen, Raas and Merckx have won the race.

After a break with five riders had been caght, the race started for real about 65 kilometers from the finish. "At that stage I always rode near the front of the peloton. The climbs make it nervous and it is important not to be to far behind," said Groenewegen who received support from Tim Kerkhof and Mike Terpstra.

Once in the Belgian capital, he had a tactical plan. "I deliberately wanted the wheel of Boonen. That would of course cost some energy. Berden de Vries and Jesper Asselman positioned me well and after a difficult but well-timed sprint I was the fastest."

With his victory Groenewegen crowned a longer period of good form and hard wor. "For example, I went  deeper than the other sprinters in the hilly stages at the Eneco Tour to gain some extra power. It is very nice that the extra effort paid off in this way."