One year after taking a first win in the race, Jerome Baugnies (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) made it two in a row at the Druivenkoers Overijse when he soloed to victory in the Belgian semi-classic. The puncheur attacked from a 19-rider group on the hilly circuit and held off the late comeback from a chase trio to take the win before Huub Duijn (Roompot) beat the Wanty pair of Marco Marcato and Dimitri Claeys in the sprint for second.

We have gathered a few reactions.

Jerome Baugnies: This victory is confirmation of my level

Jérôme Baugnies won this Wednesday his second consecutive Druivenkoers in the streets of Overijse. The success of the Wanty-Groupe Gobert team was complete when Marco Marcato mounted the third step of the podium. Dimitri Claeys finished as 4th.

"This victory is a confirmation of my level during the last three months. I am proud to defend my title at the Druivenkoers,"Jérôme Baugnies said.

Divided into three laps of 31.3 kilometres and eight local laps of 12.9 kilometres, it was a hot and hard day for the riders of Wanty-Groupe Gobert. With 40 km to go fifteen riders joined four attackers to make a 19 riders leading group including three from Wanty-Groupe Gobert : Dimitri Claeys, Marco Marcato and Jérôme Baugnies.

The group was not working well together and exploded many times. Jérôme Baugnies attacked just before the penultimate climb of the Schavei (with 16 km to go) and arrived solo at the finish.

"Attacking was the best defence. I knew it was from far away but I immediately had a nice gap and to wait a sprint was not on the agenda. I I gave everything to the limit to stay ahead. With two kilometres to go I tried to recuperate in the descent. I could enjoy the last kilometre but it was not an easy victory.  It worked perfectly, even though it was very difficult race with this heat. "

It is the eleventh victory of the season for Wanty-Groupe Gobert.

"The team is doing well the last few weeks. We really rode as a team. It is a positive signal for the Bretagne Classic - Ouest France," sports director Hilaire Van der Schueren commented.
 

In-form Marco Marcato sets sights on WorldTour classic after third place in Overijse
It is the second podium in a row or Marco Marcato in the Druivenkoers.

"Last year I was disappointed with my result. Today I am happy because I got cramps at 30 km from the finish. I paid the efforts of the GP Zottegem ", the Italian analysed.

"I'm satisfied with this result. I continue to gain confidence for the next races that will be important for me: Classic Bretagne Ouest-France and the Tour of Britain.”

On Sunday the team Wanty-Groupe Gobert takes part in the Schaals Sels and in the Bretagne Classic- Ouest France.

Huub Duijn hopes to secure his future with strong second place in Overijse

Thanks to a strong finale, Roompot - Orange Peloton was able to add a nice podium finish to their tally. Huub Duijn finished second in Overijse.

Duijn and Etienne van Empel were part of a group of twenty leaders. 

"I wanted to sit right up front in the final laps and it worked well. Along with Dimitri Claeys and Floris De Tier I also went on the attack. But because Lotto Soudal chased hard, we were caught again, "explained the 31-year-old veteran.

"When we were caught, Baugnies went and held on until the finish. On the last climb of the Schavei I attacked and only Marcato and Claeys could follow. Of course it's good for the morale that I beat those guys in the sprint for the second place. Also because I wanted to take more initiative in this race instead of waiting for what others did. The podium is a nice confirmation of my shape," said Duijn who last year finished tenth in the Druivenkoers.

"When you're second, you're always a little disappointed not to win. But I think it was the best possible result. I tried my luck with Floris De Tier and Dimitri Claeys but we were not riders enough and it was a little too far from the finish. We were caught and it was in that moment that Jerome Baugnies went. I thought someone in the group would take responsibility but everyone was cooked. Fatigue with this heat hurt the bodies. In the last lap, I still could follow Marco Marcato and Dimitri Claeys. Finally, I did well against the Wanty Groupe Gobert riders. I also had a teammate in the lead group with Etienne Van Empel but he is still too young to close a gap to Jérôme Baugnies. I'm satisfied with my race. I'm in shape. I have no news for next year. I'm happy at Roompot Oranje Peloton and I would like to stay in this team who gave me a second chance. "
 

Teammate Etienne van Empel who ​​worked well in the closing stages for his team leader, finished in a fine 9th place, his first top 10 this season. Tim Kerkhof finished 17th.

Bora-Argon 18 left disappointed in Ovrijse

Lukas Pöstlberger from BORA - ARGON 18 was in the race winning move. He tried hard in the chase group to close the gap to Baugnies, but without success. In the end he finished in 10th place.

"We knew that it would be a hard race in the end and that there would be another move in the final. I hoped to have more riders in that group to be able to control the race in the end. But some of our guys had really problems with the heat today. For Lukas is was tough to be alone with 18 other riders. He tried everything but it is also some kind of poker. I hoped for a little more today, but the performance from Lukas was strong again,” said André Schulze, sports director.

Stölting youngster comes up short in Overijse heat

The Team Stölting Service Group was represented by Thomas Koep in the breakaway and later also Alex Kirsch showed himself. Finally Sven Reutter was in the group that decided the race alone, but the heat took its toll and he could not intervene in the final. When the attacks started on the third last lap, he fell bac and finished 62nd

"It was very hot today which eventually became my undoing," said Sven Reutter after the race. "Although I was in the decisive group, I really had to fight to the end with the heat and had to let the group go when the attacks started. Unfortunately, I was also caught by the peloton because I was still missing the race fitness. But the form is not bad. I can build on this. On Sunday in the Schaal Sels we have the next test.”