This Sunday was the 42nd edition of the Tour of eleven cities (Elfstedenronde in Dutch), a race UCI male taking place in Belgium. The 199 -kilometers without relief course, a loop whose departure and arrival took place in Bruges, promised a fight between sprinters for the final victory. In a breathtaking final sprint, it's French Paul Magnier (Sudal Quick-Step) which won a few millimeters, at the photo-finish, ahead of the Belgian Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-DECEUNINCK) et l'Italien Elia Viviani (Lotto). This is an important new victory for French, which confirms its great form of the moment after winning Through the Hageland and the HEIST arrow Last week.
VIDEO – Paul Magnier had won through the Hageland
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The summary of the race:
In the first kilometers, a group of six runners escaped: Edward Planckaert (Alpecin-DECEUNINCK), Jordy Decottignies (Tarteletto-Isorex), Maarten Verheyen (Baloyian Glowi Lions), Timo de Jong (VolkerWessels Cycling Team), Hidde van Veenendaal (Beat Cycling Club) and French Samuel Leroux (Totalenergies team). The breakaway of the day, however, could never believe in the final victory, with a maximum advance of 3 minutes on the peloton, which reduced it as the finish line approached.
However, it was not until the last 3 kilometers to see the peloton definitively catch up with the six leading men. A kilometer from the finish, the sprint trainAlpecin-DECEUNINCK took control of the peloton for its star sprinter, Jasper Philipsenbefore the Belgian lost his teammates. He nevertheless found himself in the lead in the final sprint, seeming to go to victory. But French Paul Magnier arose in the very last meters to style everyone on the line and blow the victory at Jasper Philipsenfor only a few millimeters.
