Franco-Belge Stage 1: Van Keirsbulck 2nd in Chaotic Race
Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team had both Iljo Keisse and Guillaume Van Keirsbulck in a front group of 75 riders going into the final kilometers of the 165.8km Franco-Belge/Tour de Wallonie Picarde Stage 1 on Thursday.
The race had split into three groups, with Van Keirsbulck and Keisse in a group of about 35 riders, but the second group managed to catch them while the 3rd group, caught behind a crossing, was more than 3 minutes back.
Eventually, Van Keirsbulck attacked with about seven riders, and gained as much as 20" on their former escapees. Out of those attacking riders, Jurgen Roelandts (Lotto-Belisol) won the race, with Van Keirsbulck taking 2nd and Maarten Wynants placing 3rd. Keisse finished 13th.
OPQS looks next to a 178.5km stage on Friday.
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