Lars Vanden Heede wins Keizer der Juniores, final stage is for Hobbs

Lars Vanden Heede and Steffen De Schuyteneer have already divided the prizes neatly. Vanden Heede was the strongest in Pittem, De Schuyteneer the strongest time trialist in Wulpen this morning. The Olsenaar from Crabbé Toitures started in the final stage as leader with a five-second bonus.

Sports director Rik Dewachtt of Crabbé Toitures knows the ropes like no other, and does not want to relinquish the final victory of his team. Vanden Heede’s teammates control the final race, the leader himself also drives very alertly at the front. On almost every climb of the Hoge Blekker, the Olsenaar comes up first. Vanden Heede will win the mountain prize anyway.

He doesn’t get much competition for the overall victory either. Attacking is almost impossible and so we get a bunch sprint in Koksijde. Just right for the Brit Hobbs who makes it ahead of Schröder and De Schuyteneer. The overall victory in this Keizer der juniores is for Lars Vanden Heede.