‘Totally wrecked at the end’: Philipsen’s Knokke-Heist Lord and Principal in Speed ​​Race, Jacobsen Struggling with a Punched Tire | sports

The second stage of the Baloise Belgium Tour between Beveren and Knokke-Heist was one for the thoroughbred runners. But as is often the case in the flat phases, the usual breakout forms first.

Although it took about an hour and a half before three Belgians (Yentl Vandevelde, Theo Bonnet and Jacob Relaes) and three Dutch people (Yoeri Havik, Daan van Sintmaartensdijk and Nick van der Meer) created a collaboration. However, with Trek Segafrido (for Commander Pedersen) and Quick.Step-Alpha Vinyl (for Jacobsen’s favorite), they never quite got away.

On the two local rounds at Knokke-Heist, Bonnet had to pass quickly. Van Centmaartensdejk and van der Meer also had hard times. The remaining three white-collar leaders were captured 13 kilometers from the finish. Enemy expected at the sea levee on “De Wandelaar” – the last 75 meters of which was still very steep.

Sasha Wemais had been in the lead for a long time, but Jasper Philipsen timed it perfectly and convincingly rushed to win the short downhill segment. Danny van Poppel came in second. Mads Pedersen finished third and remains in the lead. Fabio Jacobsen was unable to participate in the discussions due to a punctured tire (see photo below).

Tomorrow’s riders will face a task for the hour: 11.8 kilometers from Scherpenheuvel to Averbode.

“She was a frantic enemy,” Philipsen said upon arrival. She was fighting for every position. I actually did half a sprint before the real sprint to be in a good spot. I was pretty much in the block. But the timing was fine. Although I was completely exhausted in the end.”

Philipsen is now second in the standings, six seconds behind Pedersen. Is the leader’s shirt possible tomorrow? “I think Pedersen is very strong in such a short period of time. But we will. On the UAE Tour I rode a good time trial, but I haven’t been to the test bike for a while. I see it as a good test, we’ll see…”