Today the Grote Prijs Jef Scherens took place in Leuven, Belgium. Bjorn Leukemans won this UCI 1.1-race. It is the team's fifth victory of the season and the second one this year for Bjorn Leukemans.

Early on in the race a breakaway of no less than 40 riders formed. They were never to be caught. In that first group Wanty-Groupe Gobert was represented by four riders: Bjorn Leukemans, Marco Marcato, Frederik Veuchelen and Marco Minnaard.

"I was happy to see four guys in that first group," sports director Van Der Schueren reflected. "But I would have liked to have two more, even."

The course was made up by 13 laps of 14 kilometres. This made it hard for the chasers to get organized. At 90 kilometres from the finish Bjorn Leukemans and Marco Marcato decided to make the race even more active. Their attack caused a first selection in that large first group.

"We talked together and found that not everyone in that first group did their fair share," Leukemans declared. Together with Vegard Breen, Marc McNally and Wout Van Aert, the Wanty-Groupe Gobert duo wasn't caught back except for the Vérandas Willems tandem, Gâetan Bille and Dimitri Claeys.

"I thought the attack was way too early in the race but I couldn't tell them because there was no communication with the riders. Eventually we win this race, therefore the decision to attack there was the right one," Van Der Schueren admitted.

The final decision took place in the final lap. After an attack by Marcato on the Wijnpers, the Italian set up a second attack for Leukemans.

"We played it very well tactically. We did what we had to do with Marcato," Leukemans commented. The rider from the province of Antwerp arrived solo in Leuven. Dimitri Claeys and Marc McNally rounded up the other podium places. Marco Marcato finished fifth.

"We took the main course from the start. We had four riders in the group of 40. It was the ideal scenario. Then, since everyone did not take their turns, I discussed with Marco Marcato. We decided to attack with 6.5 laps to go. We could not afford to arrive in a sprint. In the last lap, Marco Marcato attacked a first time. Marc McNally followed. I made my counterattack immediately. I was able to arrive alone. This victory is good for the team. "
 

"It is a good win which comes at a good moment," Hilaire Van der Schueren concluded.