ProTeam Vito Braet sprints to ninth in fastest Dwars door Vlaanderen ever

Dwars door Vlaanderen is traditionally the final race before the Holy Week really gets underway, and then you know the pace will be high. An average speed of 48.5 kilometers per hour, to put it in numbers- the fastest Dwars door Vlaanderen in history. It was on the Eikenberg that the race really exploded. At that point, Cedric Beullens and Vito Braet were still up front for Lotto–Intermarché. “I saw Wout Van Aert attack, but he was simply too fast,” Braet said. “Everyone is realistic at such a moment. You know it’s difficult to follow him. Then you have to seize your chance in the group behind.”

Braet has a strong sprint, as he already showed with his second place in stage one of Paris–Nice at the beginning of March. “Of course, Paul Magnier and Jasper Philipsen were also in that chasing group. Those are not slow guys. I thought, I’ll stay on their wheel. If that works, I’ll stay in that group. Today Arnaud De Lie was our leader, but he crashed early. Then you have to take your chance, and that’s what I did. This result is definitely a boost.”

Jenno Berckmoes crashed early in the race and was taken to the hospital in Oudenaarde. Fortunately, examinations revealed no fractures. Berckmoes is left with a bruised right elbow from the crash. He will be closely monitored with a view to the Tour of Flanders next Sunday.

Picture: PhotoNews