Circuit Franco-Belge pulls down the curtain over the month of May.
One day after concluding runner-up at Gullegem Koerse, Yves Lampaert was again in the thick of the action on home turf, at the one-day race Circuit Franco-Belge. Taking in dozens of climbs, short but boasting sharp gradients, the race was ignited by a five-man breakaway, which managed to remain off the front until 60 kilometers to go.
Soon after the peloton caught them, three other riders opened a gap that allowed them to stay clear until the last 20 kilometers. On the Trieu-Knokteberg, the penultimate ascent of the day, a strong trio got away, the effort the bunch put in behind them thinning down the group to some 35-odd riders ahead of the uphill finish in Mont-de-l’Enclus.
There, the victor emerged following a reduced sprint won by Biniam Girmay (Intermarche-Wanty), while Yves – who made his return to competition this week – came home a couple of seconds later as our best rider.
Photo credit: ©Luc Claessen / Getty Images
Yves Lampaert 