The Dutch Champion blasted to his third victory of the season at the Belgian one-day race.
Fabio Jakobsen captured Deceuninck – Quick-Step’s 15th success of the season in Roeselare, at the eighth edition of Grote Prijs Jean-Pierre Monseré, which consisted of a ten-lap circuit featuring a small hill and a cobblestone stretch, serving as an ideal launchpad for those keen on attacking and disrupting the lead-out trains, also with the help of the driving rain.
Three riders kicked away in the opening kilometers and eked out a six-minute maximum advantage, which was controlled mainly by our team, who with the likes of Ian Garrison kept the escapees within reach and gradually hauled them back on the roads of Roeselare. Later into the race, it became even more difficult for the leaders to stay at the front when one of them was dropped, and eventually, their time in the spotlight came to an end on the penultimate lap.
On the final climb of the 198.8km race, a handful of riders bolted away, but the Wolfpack didn’t panic and reeled them in, making sure things were back together for the hectic final five kilometers. The well-oiled Deceuninck – Quick-Step lead-out train remained at the front and expertly piloted Fabio Jakobsen, who once he came off Florian Sénéchal’s wheel, delivered a fine burst of speed to see off the challenge of Timothy Dupont and Alfdan De Decker, and took his third win of the year.
“We were the race favourites, but I didn’t feel any pressure, rather a healthy tension, but that’s what you do it for as a pro. I had six guys who worked for me, sacrificed themselves for me and provided an amazing lead-out today. Hats off to Ian, who controlled the race practically by himself. Winning always feels great, but above all, I am happy that I managed to finish it off for them. This is what the Wolfpack is all about”, explained the Dutch Champion.
“Of course, we wanted to win today also because Deceuninck is one of the race’s main sponsors and this is also where team CEO Patrick Lefevere lives. It was a cold and tough race and I was confident in my sprint, especially as my Specialized Venge is perfect also for this kind of race and weather conditions. I knew I had to follow my lead-out man and start sprinting from the 200m mark. It’s my third victory of the year and I can be happy with my season, which now, after the cancelation of Tirreno-Adriatico, will continue at Nokere Koerse and the Grand Prix de Denain”, concluded the 23-year-old sprinter after netting the 760th victory in the history of Deceuninck – Quick-Step.
Photo credit: ©Peter De Voecht / Photo News
