ProTeam Jenno Berckmoes wins in Geraardsbergen and takes over the leader’s jersey in the Renewi Tour

The third stage of the Renewi Tour took the peloton over a tough course, with the Muur van Geraardsbergen as one of the key moments. Lotto-Intermarché entered the finale with several cards to play and saw both Jenno Berckmoes and Arnaud De Lie competing at the front. “I had actually agreed with Arnaud that we would go full gas on the final climb. We are both strong enough to carry the race at those moments.”

A crash disrupted those plans, however, preventing De Lie from making the connection with the front of the race. After a powerful attack, Berckmoes then found himself up the road with Alec Segaert. The two worked well together, but Berckmoes knew he could not underestimate his compatriot. “I was happy to have Alec as a companion, but honestly, I was a bit afraid of him. I know how strong he is and the turns he took were incredibly strong.”

In the finale, Berckmoes tried to make the difference on the climb of the Vesten. Sitting in Segaert’s wheel, he launched his decisive acceleration before the cobbles. “I felt that he didn’t have as much left in the tank anymore. I was in his wheel and went full gas at the bottom, a bit of a surprise, I think. When I looked back, I immediately had a gap. Then I knew: full gas to the finish.”

Berckmoes managed to hold on and claimed a particularly special victory in Geraardsbergen. “I had to dig very deep, but I’m very happy that I managed to finish it off. It’s a place I really like coming back to. I’ve already won here in another race and it’s almost a home race, just fifteen minutes from home. It’s the biggest victory of my career.”

With the victory, Berckmoes also takes over the leader’s jersey. The Belgian knows that the battle for the overall classification is far from over. “There are still two very difficult days to come. I remember it from last year with Arnaud. We had to dig very deep in the final days to win the classification, so the overall victory is certainly not secured yet. We will have to fight very hard for it.”

Berckmoes leads Jasper Philipsen by six seconds in the overall classification. “It will still be very close until Leuven. But that maybe makes it even more exciting for the fans. In the Baloise Belgium Tour, Jasper won ahead of me. Now I hope I can come out on top.”

To complete the successful day, Lionel Taminiaux retains the lead in the combativity classification.

Photo: PhotoNews