Team LottoNL-Jumbo rode a nearly invisible Brussels Cycling Classic, only Sep Vanmarcke tried to breakaway. The formation of Frans Maassen was unable to leave its mark in the semi-classic won by Dylan Groenewegen of Team Roompot.
The 201-kilometre race had a boring and predictable trend on a completely revamped course with 13 slopes. Five riders moved clear but never made a big lead so a bunch sprint was inevitable.
"The course was locked. Sep tried after the climb of the Bruine Put with world champion Kwiatkowski but they never got away,” said Sports Director Frans Maassen after the race. "We had no sprinter and had little chance because of the flat finale."
In the final it was raining pretty hard. A break in the peloton caught all the LottoNL-jumbo riders out.
"What should I say. In a race you have to be in the front otherwise you run the risk of being discharged with the rain and corners, "Maassen continued. "Leezer fell. Vanmarcke took no risks in the final with the upcoming races in Canada."
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