Biniam Girmay powers to take strong win in Belgium Tour opener

Four riders attempted to try their luck in an unlikely breakaway. The group consisted of Storm Ingebrigtsen (Uno-X Mobility), Roy Hoogendoorn (Metec-SOLARWATT p/b Mantel), Stijn Appel (BEAT CC p/b Saxo) and Olivier Godfroid (Baloise Verzekeringen).

The group cooperated until it was caught with 76 kilometres to go. That allowed a fresh group to go clear, consisting of Wies Nuyens (Pauwels Sauzen), Jarno Bellens (Baloise Verzekeringen), Robbe Mellaerts (Baloise Verzekeringen) and Bart Kortleve (Metec-SOLARWATT p/b Mantel).

It was not to be for the attackers once more, as they were caught with 39 kilometres to go. A bunch sprint was in store, with the sprinters’ teams in full control, especially Decathlon CMA CGM and Soudal Quick-Step.

However, with 20 kilometres remaining, Rune Herregodts (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) went on the offensive and opened a small gap over the peloton. In the Belgian’s previous race, the Copenhagen Sprint, Herregodts was part of a breakaway that was caught inside the final kilometre.

Herregodts was left dangling with a 15 second advantage over the peloton, which was led by Soudal Quick-Step, Decathlon CMA CGM and Alpecin-Premier Tech heading into the finale.

With less than five kilometres to go, the sprint trains were well established, but Herregodts still had to be caught. He remained ahead under the flamme rouge, setting up a nail biting finish.

Herregodts was swept up with 200 metres to go, and the sprinters launched their efforts. Biniam Girmay pipped Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) by half a wheel to return to winning ways.