On the penultimate lap, Kevin Kuhn took over the lead and further thinned out the leading group. Only Vanthourenhout, Nieuwenhuys and Aerts remained. The last sand strip was decisive: Nieuwenhuys dived first, but Vanthourenhout took the inside bend on the slope and took the lead. Aerts crashed in the last corner, leaving the battle for victory between two men.
Vanthourenhout held out against the strong Nieuwenhuys and won by half a wheel. With this he takes the first major victory of the cyclo-cross season and can take the leading position in the Superprestige. Nieuwenhuys came second, Aerts completed the podium. Wyseure finished fifth.
For the 31-year-old Vanthourenhout it is his first victory in Ruddervoorde. The West Flemish rider already finished third in the Berencross in Meulebeke this season and second in the Kermiscross in Ardooie last Thursday. He succeeds Joran Wyseure on the honors list in Ruddervoorde.