Tom Van Asbroeck (Topsport Vlaanderen) was millimetres from taking the biggest win of his career when he finished 2nd in a photo finish in today's Nokere Koerse. Having originally had bad legs, the Belgian made a last-minute decision to do the sprint and that nearly paid off for the talented Belgian.

Since finishing third at the 2012 U23 World Championships, Tom Van Asbroeck has been close to a big win and today he was only millimetres away from finally taking that big victory when he finished 2nd in the semi-classic Nokere Koerse. In a photo finish, the Belgian narrowly lost out to Kenny Dehaes who beat him in the uphill sprint on the cobbled Nokereberg.

Van Asbroeck had originally felt back but as he had his teammates Yves Lampaert in the big break that was only caught inside the final kilometre, he could allow himself to just roll along in the peloton. As he gradually started to feel better, he decided to give it a go in the sprint and this proved to be a wise decision.

Van Asbroeck raised his arms to celebrate what he thought was a big win but was later informed by officials that he had been narrowly beaten into 2nd.

"Initially I thought that I had made it but apparently the photo finish relegated me to the first place of honor. What a shame'', explained Tom Van Asbroeck. "I suggest that we still go and take a look at the pictures and if it is true that Kenny Dehaes was the fastest, the margin must have been very small. 

"The race did not go too well for me as I did not have super legs. I just rolled along in the peloton and we did not have to work as a team because Yves Lampaert was our priority. Gradually I started to feel better. At the end I was asked how I felt and I decided to mix it up in the sprint. 

"For a moment, [Gert] Steegmans seemed to stay away but he died onthe Nokereberg. [Eliot] Lietaer was the last man to lead me out and I came very close to victory. It must have made been a case of a few millimeters. This weekend I go to France where I will do Classic Loire Atlantique on Saturday and Cholet on Sunday. We may have more success.''