ProTeam Jenno Berckmoes powers to emotional victory in stage 4 of the Baloise Belgium Tour

Motivated by a time trial that didn’t really go as he had hoped, Jenno entered the penultimate day of racing in Baloise Belgium Tour with a clear strategy: “My TT didn’t go as I hoped yesterday, which made me lose quite some time in the General Classification. So I was very motivated to win today.”

The closing moments of the stage were intense, but Berckmoes kept his composure. “The last kilometer was quite stressful. But I know that I can focus really well when I see the finish line,” he explained. “Two days ago I was third in a bunch sprint, while I am not really a sprinter. It was good to go first, as it gave me a gap immediately on the other riders and then I just had to go on to win this stage.”

Jenno’s triumph wasn’t just a physical win — it was an emotional release after months of struggle: “It’s been a tough period,” he says emotionally after the finish. “I started off the season with this bacteria, which meant I couldn’t prepare my season properly. And then, when I finally got back in good shape, I had this big crash in the Tour of Flanders. It’s been a tough time, with a lot of downs. Nobody really sees that. People only see it when things go well, and everyone supports you then. But when times get rough, it’s only the people who are close to you who support you. So that’s why this win is so emotional.”

The team’s strong day didn’t end there. Alec Segaert was crowned the best young rider, taking the youth jersey after another solid performance. Toon Aerts also delivered a powerful ride, finishing sixth on the stage, underlining the team’s collective strength heading into the final stage. 

Picture: PhotoNews