Team LottoNL-Jumbo played no significant role in the final stage of the Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen today. Timothy Dupont (Verandas Willems) won the 183-kilometre stage to Ichtegem, Belgium, and Sean De Bie (Lotto-Soudal) the final classification. LottoNL-Jumbo’s Martijn Keizer placed 11th overall.

In the beginning of the stage, the team of sports director Merijn Zeeman was in the right echelon. LottoNL-Jumbo had five riders in the leading group of 45 riders ahead of the hill zone around the Kemmelberg climb.

"We were great in the beginning. The men had been paying attention in the wind, but then this large group came back,” explained Zeeman. "We started well and with ambition,  but when that group came back, that was a turning point for us. We also lost Robert Wagner when he punctured on the Kemmelberg because the cars where not allowed to follow on that climb. And some moments later, Maarten Wynants fell. "

Just before the city circuit, Team LottoNL-Jumbo lacked the punch to make the decisive escape. "In all the crucial moments, we were there," said Martijn Keizer. "On the Kemmel, in the wind, and all other crucial moments... Towards the circuit, it was a bit quiet in the peloton and because of that we perhaps didn’t pay enough attention. Moments later, a group went free without us. We handled that, but when the seven-man breakaway made ground, again none of us was there. And BMC Racing didn’t do anything for their leader Bohli. At one point, only Dylan and I were still in the chasing group and we couldn’t do anything any more." 

“I’m not satisfied. I just want to show that I can win in these kind of races. The time trial went well. I was second. Yesterday was great with a win and we lose everything today. That 11th place doesn’t tell me much. I wanted to go for the final victory. "

"The fighting spirit is good in this young group," added Zeeman. “I'm satisfied with that. But we could’ve had much more out of this. Yesterday we won, today we have nothing. “