With an outside temperature of -3°C the riders started in Quaregnon for Le Samyn (1.1), a 200 km long trip through Hainaut. Tom Devriendt felt inspired and attacked with six fellow riders. After 80 kilometers, QuickStep broke open the race in the peloton. 10 riders accelerated, with an attentive Boris Vallée present. The pursuing group merged with the leading group to 16 leaders. That group was thinned out, and Vallée and Devriendt were among the victims.
Defending champion Guillaume Van Keirsbulck made a solid impression. He accelerated at 70 kilometers from the finish. Van Keirsbulck rode strong in a few more attempts, but did not close the gap with the leaders. In the final lap he had to pay for his efforts. Frederik Backaert accera forward and finished 9th.
Guillaume Van Keirsbulck:
“I missed the QuickStep echelon that was created after 80 kilometers. I was positioned a bit too far away and the peloton immediately broke into several pieces. I myself have tried to set the chase in motion by attacking several times. We always got clear, but the gap with the leaders was never closed.”
“In the final lap I got a knock of all the previous efforts in combination with the extreme cold. I completely parked. The condition is good and that is the most important. I hope I can continue this line and not let myself be surprised anymore. Sunday I ride West Flanders, then I go on training camp. “