Due to the bad weather conditions, the first cobblestone sections and hills already made for a battle in the peloton. Five escapees were in the breakaway, but were caught by the main peloton well before the race was halfway.

Team Jumbo-Visma was constantly in the foreground and often showed initiative. Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo) sprinted to victory in Ninove.

The breakaway with Teunissen turned out to be the winning one. The ascent of the famous ‘Muur’ eventually became a little too much for him. “I gave everything, but at a certain point, I did not anymore. I felt that other guys were better. Wout and Pascal were very strong, so I told them that they could attack. We rode a good race. We really showed ourselves. Hopefully I can be strong at crucial moments in the coming weeks.”

Sports director Jan Boven had also seen a strong Team Jumbo-Visma. “We rode a very good race. We always had someone at the place where we were supposed to be. Of course we had hoped that Mike would have been just a little better on the ‘Muur’ because in that case he definitely would have competed for the win. We have shown that we are ready for this type of races.”

Just like Teunissen and Jansen, Van Aert made his first kilometres on the road this season. That meant his re-appearance on the road after his heavy crash in the Tour de France.
“The race went very well. The team always was in a good situation. It is a pity that Mike was not able to keep the pace on the ‘Muur, but at that moment, my group could not return to the front of the race. I tried to make it to the front, but at that moment there there was not enough support. In fact, the whole team raced well. We showed that we are ready for the classics. In races like this, you should be a bit lucky. That was not the case today.”

Amund Jansen had to abandon the race early due to a crash. A wound was treated in the hospital and he is doing well.