Nobody managed to avoid the expected mass sprint crossing the flat roads between Blankenberge and Ardooie. Jasper Philipsen tried to repeat last year’s Renewi Tour trick but was no match to Jonathan Milan who bagged his second stage.
Tim Merlier was missing from the starting podium in Blankenberge. He suffered too badly after his crash in the opening stage, which meant all eyes were on the two men who had already caused an exciting battle on Wednesday: Jonathan Milan and Jasper Philipsen.
After grabbing the intermediate sprint for the Super8 Combativity classification after only 15 kilometres in Blankenberge, jersey wearer Jordy Bouts of TDT – Unibet Cycling Team was the first to go on the attack from the start. Teammate – and also companion in the first stage – Axel Huens also escaped. The duo from Team Flanders-Baloise Aaron Van Poucke and Ward Vanhoof joined them, and Warre Vangheluwe from Soudal – Quick-Step was the fifth pawn in the leading group. The peloton soon let up.
Huens won the sprint ahead of Bouts, but the Frenchman was caught up by the peloton. This left a foursome at the front with a maximum lead of 3’30” ahead of the peloton, controlled by Lotto Dstny, Lidl-Trek and Alpecin-Deceuninck. With eighty kilometres to go, spread over five 16-kilometre laps, the riders crossed the finish in Ardooie for the first time. Twenty kilometres later came the second intermediate sprint where Bouts again came second. Enough to extend his position at the top of the Super8 Combativity classification.
Expected Bunch Sprint in Ardooie
At that point, it was already clear that the four frontrunners were no match for the chasing peloton. On the final local lap, twelve kilometres from the line, three breakaway riders had already been caught. Warre Vangheluwe was the last to struggle but he had nothing left in the tank with four kilometres to go.
Ardooie was getting ready for a new duel between Jonathan Milan and Jasper Philipsen, who was the fastest across the same finish last year. As in the first stage, World Champion Mathieu van der Poel spearheaded the sprint, with Milan on his wheel and Philipsen behind. The Italian started his sprint and raced to his second stage victory with a clear gap, ahead of Philipsen and Max Walscheid.
This makes Milan the sole leader in the points classification, ten points ahead of Philipsen. Overall leader Alec Segaert had no problems today and will start in the blue-green leader’s jersey again in Oostburg tomorrow.
Jonathan Milan: “Went all out towards the finish line”
“I’m very happy with this second stage win because I was really looking forward to another good result,” began the Italian stage winner. “Again, thanks to the team who kept me well positioned in the chaotic finale. Very proud of the win and all the work we did today. It was important to be at the very front at the last sharp bend so that’s where Jasper Stuyven helped brilliantly. I had no idea when Jasper Philipsen would start his sprint, so I went all out myself. I’m still looking at it day by day, despite the ten bonus seconds today. Sunday will be the queen stage where the biggest differences will be made.”
