After a super -fast game of competition, Odent had to release the role at the first climb of the Kruisstraat and the Hotond. He took a seat in a chasing group on five leaders with the French defending champion Mathieu Bosredon.
Bosredon, who also extended his world title in time trial on Thursday, took the Forcing at the end of the second round and drove solo to the victory in 1h45: 51. The Italians Martino Pini and Mirko Testa took silver and bronze. Odent was tenth at 4:44.
The West Flanders had hoped for a little more, but was satisfied with the shape of the day. “On the climbs I was able to push myself up for 120 percent by the encouragements of the supporters,” he said. “At the start I was still good in the technical zone and I had hoped to be in the front in that first round, but that didn’t work.”
With its bronze medal in the time trial, the 41-year-old West Flanders can look back on a successful World Cup. “We had come to be on stage in the time trial and we succeeded. In the road ride it was waiting for me to do with the shape of the day. At the end of the ride I can still be satisfied. The supporters also did a great job and that is a memory that will keep going,” he closed.