Wanty-Groupe Gobert rode the World Ports Classic (2.1) last weekend. Sports director Hilaire Van Der Schueren selected Danilo Napolitano, Tim De Troyer, Tom Devriendt, Jan Ghyselinck, Roy Jans, Fréderique Robert and Frederik Veuchelen for this sprinter's race.

The first stage between Antwerp and Rotterdam (194km) ended in the expexted bunch sprint. Andrea Guardini (Astana) won with Roy Jans coming in ninth for Wanty-Groupe Gobert.

"That wasn't bad but we can always do better. A top five should always be our ambition, especially in a Belgian race," Van Der Schueren declared. 
 

The second stage finished on the Erasmus bridege in Rotterdam. At the start of the day, in Brecht, there was bonification seconds up for grabs. In a race like World Ports Classic a valuable commodity.  

"I really wanted that one of our riders took some of those seconds but we didn't succeed in doing that." 

Tim De Troyer was in the right breakaway with five others but their gap never amounted to more than three minutes. " I really would have liked to see Tim take those seconds but he finished fourth in the intermediate sprint." 

The group was caught at several kilometres from the finish and the peloton prepare for another bunch sprint. That turned out differenty after a large crash at four kilometres from the line. 

The peloton was reduced to about ten riders who would go for victory in Rotterdam. Kris Boeckmans (Lotto-Soudal) was the strongest with Danilo Napolitano coming in second for Wanty-Groupe Gobert. Roy Jans netted another top ten result by finishing sixth. 

"I am stlightly disappointed," Jans declared. "Yeah I am regular with two top tens but in the end that doesn't buy me anything. Today I was able to return to the front of the race after the crash but I was completely dead. Therefore, a sixth place is not that bad."

Danilo Napolitano finished second overall in the World Ports Classic.

"I told my riders that it was time to win a sprint because it was too long ago. Today we get a second place. Danilo rode his own sprint and that almost brought us success. Now we must focus on the Tour of Belgium because that is an important race for us."