ProTeam Jenno Berckmoes celebrates in the Muur Classic

"I thought, 'I shouldn't hesitate too much,' because that's happened a bit too often this season. Better to go too early than too late, at least I couldn't blame myself for that. The team put me in a perfect position, I went, and I won," says an overjoyed Jenno Berckmoes (23), who secured his second pro victory on the Vesten in Geraardsbergen. "And to think that I almost didn't start. I felt a bit sick the past two days. But the Muur Classic is a race in my own region. I would have always regretted it if I had skipped it."

The race has only carried a UCI 1.1 label since this year, so it was the first time a pro peloton started in Geraardsbergen. The riders were presented with a challenging course. In six laps of 30 kilometers, the Muur had to be climbed three times, and the peloton had to cross the Vesten six times. "A tough race, but we played it perfectly. Lionel (Taminiaux, ed.) joined the early break, and the team kept things under control behind. On the Denderoordberg, everything came together, and after Lionel made a few more attacks, I could go myself. I am particularly happy with this victory. I've been close so many times, but now it's finally happened."

Picture: PhotoNews