The beach race in Middelkerke is the penultimate in a row, with the closing event in De Haan next week. Today on the program, 2 large laps of 21 kilometers in the sand of the Midcoast. Many professional cyclists are currently in Spain, but today, among others, Xandro Meurisse, Louis Vervaeke and Tim Merlier will be at the start.
A leading group soon formed including Braam Merlier, Meurisse, Vervaeke and Aaron Verwilst. Tim Merlier can still join at the beginning of round two. A group of four including Dupont and Noppe are still trying to connect, but ultimately it is the five at the front who will fight it out for the win.
Tim Merlier appeared to be sufficiently adapted to the temperature after his internship and proved to be the strongest on the last part of the course. Meurisse and Verwilst were allowed on stage.