Dupont third in opening stage Baloise Belgium Tour

It has become a fascinating opening stage of the Baloise Belgium Tour, thanks to the work of Alpecin-Deceuninck. At 80 kilometers from the finish, a trio took off with Mathieu van der Poel, Gianni Vermeersch and Ramon Sinkeldam. Van der Poel was also involved in the second breakaway, together with Jasper Stuyven and Casper Pedersen, among others, they seemed to be on their way to victory.

But three kilometers from the finish, the remaining four of Van der Poel, Debuyst, Pedersen and Tiller were grabbed by the scruff of the neck. Gianni Vermeersch tried it alone, but it still turned out to be a mass sprint. Jasper Philipsen was perfectly piloted by Jonas Rickaert and Mathieu van der Poel, ahead of Fabio Jakobsen, Timothy Dupont and Alexander Kristoff.

Tomorrow the peloton will drive to the Wandelaar in Knokke-Heist.