Tim Merlier wins in Bavikhove ahead of Jasper Philipsen and Arnaud De Lie

The pace was very high from the start. That did not prevent Gianni Vermeersch from attacking. The world champion clay court received Maxime De Poorter, Kenny Molly, Kjell Cooman, Gauthier Van Maele, Maxime Laverge, Quinten Declercq and the local Ruben Demarez. After six laps, under the impulse of Yves Lampaert and Bert Van Lerberghe, everything melted together again.

Jasper Philipsen went to shake the tree and got Tim Merlier and Tiesj Benoot, among others, in support. Arnaud De Lie made sure that this attempt also failed. Ruben Demarez attacked with ten laps to go. The rider from Bavikhove was joined by Yves Lampaert, Gianni Vermeersch and Tiesj Benoot. Two laps from the end, a cross could also be drawn over this attempt, although Benoot struggled for a while. The teammates of the fast men then got involved in the matter. The pace went up again and so a leading group of thirteen riders was formed. Of them, Belgian champion Tim Merlier turned out to be the strongest.