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OVERIJSE, BELGIUM – After winning at Scheldecross Saturday, Sven Nys  (Landbouwkrediet) attacked to finish solo at Vlaamse Druivencross ahead of Bart Aernouts (Rabobank-Giant) and Klaas Vantornout  (Sunweb) on a wet and muddy day of racing.

While Elia Silvestri (Selle Italia-Guerciotti) took the early lead, Kevin Pauwels (Sunweb-Revor) and Tom Meeusen (Telenet-Fidea) made the first substantial attacks of the day, gapping the field and forcing Aernouts to chase. The defending champion, Nys, was seven wheels back and unable to immediately respond to the attack.

After a series of crashes put the chase into disarray, Nys moved forward and closed the gap to the leaders. With five laps to go it was a three-man race for the win with Nys, Meeusen and Pauwels in contention. The threesome didn’t last long. Heading into the pavement, Pauwels ramped up the pace and dropped Meeusen who then flatted his rear wheel on the cobbles, allowing Aernouts to move into third.

With the two leaders choosing to slow up, Meeusen – after a bike change – and Vantornout were able to reach Aernouts and eventually regroup to form a five-man front group. For a few moments, the pace slowed as nobody drove the pace.

With three to go, Meeusen took the initiative. He attacked and managed to ride the climb which had been forcing riders to dismount all day. Nys chose to run and managed to stay with him, but the others were distanced. Over the next climbs, Aernouts chased to regroup but was left dangling as Nys again applied the pressure.

Heading through the start/finish, Meeusen slid out leaving Nys and Aernouts at the front. Again, Nys attacked on the climb and left Aernouts behind. While he dangled for some time, the gap eventually ballooned and Aernouts was left to fight for second with Vantornout finishing third.

Elite Men’s Results:

RankNameNat.
1Sven NYSBEL
2Bart AERNOUTSBEL
3Klaas VANTORNOUTBEL
4Tom MEEUSENBEL
5Kevin PAUWELSBEL
6Rob PEETERSBEL
7Enrico FRANZOIITA
8Thijs VAN AMERONGENNED
9Marcel MEISENGER
10Mariusz GILPOL
11Jan DENUWELAEREBEL
12Vincent BAESTAENSBEL
13Micki VAN EMPELNED
14Jim AERNOUTSBEL
15Kenneth VAN COMPERNOLLEBEL
16Martin ZLAMALIKCZE
17Arnaud JOUFFROYFRA
18Joeri ADAMSBEL
19Jonathan PAGEUSA
20Rudi VAN HOUTSNED
21Vinnie BRAETBEL
22Tom VAN DEN BOSCHBEL
23Arnaud GRANDSUI
24Patrick GAUDYBEL
25Corne VAN KESSELNED
26Patrick VAN LEEUWENNED
27Eddy VAN IJZENDOORNNED
28Jens VANDEKINDERENBEL
29Bart HOFMANBEL
30Mirko TABACCHIITA
31Dave DE CLEYNBEL
32Kevin CANTBEL
33Elia SILVESTRIITA
34Matthias BOSSUYTBEL
35Jo PIROTTEBEL
36Ingmar UYTDEWILLIGENBEL
37Dries PAUWELSBEL
38Niels KOYENBEL
39Jeremy DURRINUSA
40Lorenzo PEPERMANSBEL