Long considered a rider lacking a spark to finish things off, Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing) proved that he knows how to win races as he take took his second victory of this week in Primus Classic Impanis – Van Petegem and became a clear favorite for the upcoming World Championship road race alongside Simon Gerrans (Orica-GreenEDGE) and John Degenkolb (Giant-Shimano).

Willingly taking part in such actions, Van Avermaet joined an early breakaway which took off after 25 kilometers of racing, where he was arguably the stronger rider. They were eventually caught with only 5 kilometers to go by a strong chasing group including Gianni Meersman (Omega Pharma – Quick Step), Tom Jelte-Slagter (Garmin-Sharp) and Bjorn Leukemans (Wanty – Groupe Gobert), but early escapees emerged as the fastest in the finale in Haacht.

The 29-year old BMC captain oversprinted Tosh Van der Sande (Lotto-Belisol) and Michał Gołaś (Omega Pharma – Quick Step) to win his second race this week following his convincing victory in the Grand Prix de Wallonie on Wednesday.

Farewell to summer

The 4th edition of Primus Classic Impanis – Van Petegem since the event returned to UCI calendar in 2011, kicked off in a perfect weather condition, so the riders could fully enjoy one of the last summer days while covering a total amount of 195 kilometers of event’s traditional course from Brakel to Haacht.

All 165 riders took the start of the Flemish one-day event, including last year’s winner Sep Vanmarcke (Belkin Procycling), who stated yesterday that he would treat the race as his final preparation towards World Championships. Among other big names which took the start of the event, 2012 edition winner Andre Greipel (Lotto-Belisol) deserves mentioning, as well as in-form Greg van Avermaet (BMC Racing), Tony Gallopin (Lotto), Gianni Meersman (Omega Pharma – Quick Step), Moreno Hofland (Belkin) or the Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen runner-up Luka Mezgec (Giant-Shimano).

An early break takes off

Differently than in Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen yesterday, it took only 25 kilometers of racing in the second of Flemish one-days events taking place this weekend before a strong breakaway group was formed.

Benefiting from a split which occurred at the front of the peloton, a 18-rider group took off and even though they were briefly caught several kilometers later, 10 of early escapees managed to go clear.

Tosh Van der Sande (Lotto-Belisol), Michal Gołaś (Omega Pharma - Quick-Step), Greg Van Avermaet (BMC), Romain Cardis (Team Europcar), Albert Timmer (Team Giant-Shimano), Tizano Dall Antonia (Androni Giocattoli), Andreas Schillinger (Team NetApp), Kenny De Ketele (Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise), Jérôme Nick (Color Code - Biowanze), Tom Derniers (Wallonie-Bruxelles) all made it to the early breakaway.

As there was a consent in the peloton to give a breakaway some leeway, an advantage of 10-man group was quickly increasing and reached 5 minutes at 40 kilometre mark.

The gap between leading group and the peloton was fluctuating around 4’30’’ as the second hour of racing has passed with an average speed of 45.4 km/h.

Tinkoff-Saxo, Garmin and Wanty take control

Escapees advantage started to decrease shortly afterwards, as teams like Tinkoff-Saxo, Garmin-Sharp and Wanty-Groupe Gobert all his the front and took control of a pace setting, quickly joined by Trek Factory Racing team. The latter team missed the split for a second day in a row, even though joining day’s breakaway was their important objective in today’s race.

A strong chasing group is formed

As the gap was constantly decreasing and dropped below 2’30’’, a real action started with about 35 kilometers to go. Furious pace set by strongest escapees caused immediate splits in the breakaway with riders like De Ketele, Derniers and Nick being reeled back by the peloton first. In the same time a series of counter-attacks took place and eventually a strong 8-rider group went clear, consisting of Gianni Meersman (Omega Pharma - Quick-Step), Vincent Jérôme (Team Europcar), Daan Olivier, Ramon Sinkeldam (Team Giant Shimano), Tom-Jelte Slagter (Garmin Sharp), Jasper De Buyst (Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise ), Bjorn Leukemans (Wanty - Groupe Gobert) and Jimmy Janssens (Team 3M).

The 11-rider finale

When both groups have merged with only 5 kilometers to go it became clear that one of 11 riders will become the winner of 4th edition of the Primus Classic Impanis – Van Petegem, with in-form Van Avermaet and Meersman being biggest favorites.

2014 Primus Classic Impanis – Van Petegem results:

1. Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing)
2. Tosh Van der Sande (Lotto-Belisol)
3. Michał Gołaś (Omega Pharma – Quick Step)