After 4 hours of an intense race, partially disputed in gravel and very lively sectors, Paul Magnier made the watts speak in the final bump leading to the citadel of Diest and won on this 10th edition of the Duracell straight through the Hageland (or Through the Hageland in French version)! French training Soudal Quick-Step thus offered his 3rd victory of the season, ahead Rasmus Tiller (Uno-X Mobility) et Tibor Del Grosso (Alpecin-DECEUNINCK).
VIDEO – 3rd victory of the year for magnier the 1st was in Bessèges
The summary
On the dirt roads around Diest, it is the specialists in the classics and the cyclo-crosss that have still distinguished themselves. The event of the day was the return to the competition of Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-deceuninck), absent since early May. Very quickly, nervousness moved into the peloton, with many falls and quickly neutralized attacks.
A quality breakaway was drawn 100 km from the finish, with Alpecin-DECEUNINCK in force (Philipsen, Hermans, Del Grosso and Kielich), in particular facing Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step), Rasmus Tiller (One-X), Mike Teunissen (XDS astana) and David Haverdings (Baloise Glowi Lions). But several favorites have missed the right wagon, including Matthew Brennan (Visma | lease a bike), delayed by a fall.
In the finale, the attacks have shot and the mechanical incidents decimated the leading group. As the last loop approaches, Tiller, Philipsen et Magnier were isolated before Thick (well launched by Hermans) does not return in the last kilometers. Magnier then launched his decisive offensive on the final cobblestones. French resisted the return of Tiller and Thickand won alone.
