Iljo Keisse and teammate Elia Viviani rocked the house on the penultimate night, scoring four emphatic victories.
First race of day five in Gent brought double joy for Team LIDL: not only that 2015 champion Iljo Keisse won it in front of an ecstatic home crowd, but by reaching the 300-point barrier, he and Elia Viviani got a one-lap bonus, which catapulted them to first in the provisional standings.
The 27-year-old Italian was also in fine form, powering to victory in the supersprint, a race in which he shined throughout the week, before Iljo doubled his tally on the night, by getting the better of his opponents – Mark Cavendish and Moreno de Pauw – in the derny final.
Last race of the evening, the always exciting and spectacular Madison, brought to the fore a strong Team LIDL determined to turn the tables and make the most out of the great form they showed during the night. A vigorous attack caught all the other teams bar one off-guard and saw the two bow out from 't Kuipke on Saturday with a big win in their hands, which is sure to make the final day of the competition even more thrilling.
General classification:
1. Bradley Wiggins/Mark Cavendish – 358 points
2. Kenny De Ketele/Moreno de Pauw – 385 points (+ 1 lap)
3. Iljo Keisse/Elia Viviani – 370 points (+ 1 lap)
Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele
