At 40 kilometers from the finish, Oliver Naesen and Matteo Trentin had had enough of the many feints.
The former Belgian champion was the instigator of a first selection, but quickly dropped out due to a flat tire.
Lotto-Soudal was well represented in the elite group of about 20 riders. Tim Merlier also signed, Fabio Jakobsen had missed the first trick.
However, at the arc of the last 20 kilometers the group splintered again.
Lotto-Soudal let the great starting position slip out of their hands, although conductor Victor Campenaerts still had an excellent trump card on board. Merlier also capsized.
The hour record moped entered the final with Trentin, Stan Dewulf, Loïc Vliegen, Bert Van Lerberghe, Dries De Bondt, Dries Van Gestel and ex-winner Hugo Hofstetter.
There was no turning back in the peloton. No one in the front was able to thin out the truss even more in an exciting final.
An industrious Trentin finally wanted to erase all his sprint defeats in Dour, the fast Hofstetter was in the pincers for too long.
Trentin cried out after his deserved victory, the Belgians were left with the places of honor.
“I was aiming for an escape, because that way I could eliminate Fabio Jakobsen. Everything turned out well,” Matteo Trentin smiled.
“Finally I win again. I am very satisfied. I mainly rode a smart sprint.”
Hugo Hofstetter admitted that Trentin had not stolen the victory. “Just like me, he has given a lot. The men with the greatest efforts finish in 1 and 2.”
“In the final it was man against man and in the sprint I was a bit closed in. I lost too much speed there. But I drove a nice and offensive course and that gives me satisfaction.”
Dries De Bondt had marked this course. “This is a difficult race: everyone is always suffocating here. My legs were already good in the Omloop and I was motivated to prove something here.”
“It was not my best sprint, however. I started a little too late. A 3rd place is nice, but maybe I’m a bit disappointed.”
