Roy Jans (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) ended a difficult season on a high as he claimed his first win in the final European road race of 2016, the Nationale Sluitingsprijs. After a big crash had split the peloton, he emerged as the fastest in the 20-rider sprint, narrowly distancing Moreno Hofland (LottoNL-Jumbo) and Timothy Dupont (Veranda’s Willems).

 

We have gathered a few reactions.

 

Jans: This is a farewell gift to Wanty-Groupe Gobert

On Tuesday 11 October Wanty-Groupe Gobert lined up in the last race of the season, Putte-Kapellen divided into 11 laps of 16.5 km with Roy Jans, Jérôme Baugnies, Kenny Dehaes, Danilo Napolitano, Robin Stenuit, Dimitri Claeys, Mark McNally and Boris Dron in a sunny Putte-Kapellen. Roy Jans sprinted to his first victory of the season.

"Wat a relief! I'm so happy to conclude this difficult season with a great victory", Roy Jans said. 

The team Wanty-Groupe Gobert rode a perfect race in Putte-Kapellen. The Italian rider Danilo Napolitano was part of the leading group with seven other riders. The breakaway was caught with three laps to go. 

A massive crash including Dimitri Claeys, Robin Stenuit and Kenny Dehaes had split the peloton to pieces, leaving just 20-30 riders in the main group. Wanty ridersJérôme Baugnies and Boris Dron attacked in the last kilometres but it was impossible to get clear. Sprinter Roy Jans was the fastest in the Ertbrandstraat.

 

"I was on Kevin Ista's wheel. I tried to move up. I launched my sprint with 200-250 metres to go. I knew I could finish it off today because I had very good legs."

Roy Jans confirms his good form of the last weeks.

 

"Since the Tour de Poitou-Charentes I'm back to a good level. It was a difficult season for me. It is a beautiful farewell gift for Wanty-Groupe Gobert. Next year I'll ride in another team", he concluded. 

 

"Finally, it worked out,” Roy Jans told Het Nieuwsblad. “I succeeded on the last day of the season. I have had to wait long enough. In the last few weeks I rode very well, but it just did not work out every time. I knew it happen today because usually it is a bunch sprint here. When we started the final round with a big breakaway, my confidence grew. I went at the right moment. I felt the rivals coming from the left and right, but eventually I had enough strength. It was a hard race which was fast. The crash in the finale changed the whole game. It happened in front of the peloton. I had to swerve sharply to avoid the crash. Fortunately I managed to stay in the first group and thus kept my chances of victory alive. Then it was about staying calm and start the sprint at the right time. I'm glad I have one victory this season. "

 

Timothy Dupont crowns dream season with overall victory in the Belgian Cycling Cup

Timothy Dupont secured with his second place the victory in the first edition of the Belgian Cycling Cup. Dutchman Dylan Groenewegen was the leader but he did not take the start in Putte-Kapellen. The battle for victory was a duel between the Verandas Willems team mates Dupont and Dries De Bondt. The latter could not defend his chances because of the crash fall in the final.

 

"This is the culmination of a great season," Dupont told Het Nieuwsblad. "In addition to seventeen victories I got loads of medals. Again, I wanted to win, but the attack of Zdenek Stybar two kilometers from the finish threw a spanner in the works. The chase did not start immediately and I know that you can’t give Stybar hundred meters in the finale. That's why I joined him and that cost me energy. I came up short in the final sprint. Moreover, I had done the intermediate sprints and I could feel that in the legs. In the sprint I was boxed in.

 

"De Bondt was just four points behind, but he crashed in full final. At that time, we were with four riders of the squad and then they just hit the ground. De Bondt crashed with some other guys. Luckily I could just jump around and do the sprint. The overall ranking is important for our team.”

 

"It was important that someone from our team took the win," agreed De Bondt. "In any case we would go for Timothy in a bunch sprint, because he is the fastest of the team. I had to go in a break, but that did not work. In the final I saw someone from Etixx - Quick-Step hit the ground and then it was all chaos. There were riders left and right and suddenly I hit the ground after I got a bike in my neck. It was just a battlefield. My race was over there. Fortunately, I have not suffered too much damage and I can start the winter with a good feeling. "

 

Moreno Hofland ends time at LottoNL-Jumbo with podium place

Team LottoNL-Jumbo rider Moreno Hofland placed third in Putte-Kapellen today. Team-mate Mike Teunissen joined the leading group and lasted until the final, which saw Belgian Roy Jans (Wanty) beat Timothy Dupont (Willems Verandas) and Moreno Hofland in a sprint. 

 

"It's nice to end the season with a podium spot,” Hofland said. “In Paris-Tours, I was not able to sprint because I felt sick. I recovered nicely. I had to wait and see how I felt. I was not at my top level, but I was fortunate to sprint.”

 

The course covered 11 laps or 189 kilometres. A massive group of riders crashed at 20 kilometres remaining and the peloton broke into pieces.

 

"I was right there, when suddenly riders braked and crashed in front of me. Also behind me, they fell. I was lucky."

 

After the crash, Hofland and Zhi Hui Jiang were the only LottoNL-Jumbo riders in the first group.

 

“Jiang rode well for me and showed to be strong, so we were able to sprint for the win,” Hofland added.

 

“The final was chaotic with a number of sprinters, but also riders who still wanted to attack. It made it difficult to prepare for the sprint. I kept a watch on the top men, but arrived too soon in front."

 

"Zhi Hui Jiang showed that he has become stronger,” said Sports Director Addy Engels.

 

The crash proved decisive in the outcome.

 

“He was in the right position in the first group when the crash happened. The crash split the peloton and we lost a number of key men for the sprint train.

 

"We thought to ride aggressively and keep Moreno on hand. It’s always wait and see if we are able to sprint or not, depending on which teams go clear in the break. It was not like in Paris-Tours with many sprinters’ teams.

 

“The race went fast. The riders must have been thinking, just one more race and our season is over.”

 

Aggressive Lotto Soudal team unrewarded in final race

Lotto Soudal animated the last Belgian race of the season today, but unfortunately the team didn’t win in Putte-Kapellen.

 

In the first hour a front group of eight was formed, including Jelle Wallays. Etixx – Quick-Step and Wallonie-Bruxelles didn’t give them much space. With less than five laps to go Wallays raised the pace and he was joined by Mike Teunissen. With about 25 kilometres left to go, the peloton caught them.

 

Lotto Soudal trainee Michael Goolaerts then attacked, but he could only remain ahead for a short time. Then a crash split the peloton. A few moments later Tosh Van der Sande got in front, together with Boris Dron and Gianni Marchand. They had an advantage of about ten seconds for several kilometres. A jump from Zdenek Stybar caused the chase group to return as well.  In the end Frederik Frison accelerated, together with Jérôme Baugnies. They couldn’t stay away either.

 

Lotto Soudal had three riders on top ten: Jasper De Buyst finished eighth, Michael Goolaerts ninth and Tosh Van der Sande tenth.

 

Hoogerland: I briefly thought that I was going to win my farewell race

Roompot - Orange Peloton did not achieve the dream of a tenth victory in 2016. In Putte - Kapellen Reinier Honig was the best-placed rider from the team. With a twelfth place, he got his best result of the season. Johnny Hoogerland finished his last race as a professional in the first group.

 

"In all honesty, I'm glad it's over,” he said. “It was hard and occasionally I had a tough time. Those are the moments when I realize that I made the right choice to stop. I look forward to my life off the bike, even though I will always love this sport ".

 

Hoogerland could sprint for the win in the end.

 

"Just when I moved to the front, 30 riders crashed. So I almost by accident I got into the first group with Reinier. The thought that I was going to win my farewell race flashed through my head,” he laughed.

 

It didn’t work out for the former champion of the Netherlands and fifth place finisher at Tirreno-Adriatico and Tour of Lombardy. Hoogerland finished 21st. 

 

Raymond Kreder was with his brother Michel behind the big crash and did not get the chance to sprint. Brian Van Goethem was in the break for the umpteenth time this season. 

 

Stybar tests Worlds form with aggressive ride in Belgium

Zdenek Stybar, one of the 15 Etixx – Quick-Step riders selected for the World Championships, polished his form at the 83rd edition of Nationale Sluitingprijs – Putte Kapellen, which this year was a more intense and nervous affair than usual, mainly due to a crash which split the pack inside the final 30 kilometers, just as the peloton was on the heels of the two riders who were still left at the front from the original breakaway of the day.

 

With 15 kilometers left, on the last of the 11 laps the riders had to cover, three men moved away and pushed hard to take their lead to 20 seconds, but the large flat roads didn't play into their favour and the chasers managed to reel them in. Immediately, Stybar launched an attack, stretching out the group and gaining some time, but his opponents responded and it was all back together with two kilometers to go.

 

The Czech didn't wave the flag and went one more time, however the others didn't give him too much space yet again. In the last kilometer, Stybar tried to surprise everybody, opening his sprint early, but despite going all in, Putte-Kapellen came down to a reduced bunch gallop, won by Roy Jans (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) ahead of Timothy Dupont (Verandas Willems) and Moreno Hofland (LottoNL-Jumbo).

 

The Belgian race was the last road event for Etixx – Quick-Step in 2016. The team concludes the season at the top of the wins standings, with 54 victories and 68 podiums. Of the 30 riders of Etixx – Quick-Step, 21 managed to finish a race in the top 3 this year.