Straight through Bruges Start with bad news for the announced Koen Naert. He must give a lump sum due to an injury to training. That of course sheds the opportunities for the others. Simon Mestdagh won in 2022, but he is in his legs with the European Championship marathon and will soon release.
In the initial phase, he is still talking to Giani Vanden Broucke and Tim Calliau, and Romain Paul is also coming. Those three form a leading group, in fourth position a purebred bruggeling, Arthur Vienne.
For the women, Charlotte van Laethem has nestled in a group. Her pace is a lot higher than that of Gwendolyn Dedeyne, also an ex-winner.
With the men, Giani Vanden Broucke quickly gets every tension from the game. The triathlete from Zuienkerke is aiming at the BK Sprint later this season, but right through Bruges is a competition that he has set his sights on for a while.
Yet this is just his debut in the city run, but Vanden Broucke feels good. Romain Paul is the second best in the game, while Arthur Vienne feels better and better, and has been torn to third place.
Those positions are also retained. Vanden Broucke wins in 46 minutes and 4 seconds, more than 1min and 45 sec faster than Paul, and more than two minutes faster than Vienne.
Even with the women there is no discussion about who is the fastest. Charlotte van Laethem makes it ahead with a street ahead of Gwendolyn De Deyne.