Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X Mobility) sped to the win on the Antwerp Port Epic-Sels Trophy, scoring his second victory of the season and ninetieth of his profession in a dash end on the finish of the 177.9km race.
The Norwegian veteran beat out Emilien Jeannière (TotalEnergies), Oded Kogut (Israel-Premier Tech Academy) and Arnaud De Lie (Lotto-Dstny) to the road in a combat between the quick finishers of the peloton.
The dash was solely arrange late on after the ultimate catch of breakaway survivor Juri Hollmann (Alpecin-Deceuninck) at simply 1.5km from the road, with Kristoff prevailing in a mass bunch end.
The 2024 race began and completed in Antwerp, masking 177.9km and together with cobbled sectors alongside an in any other case flat course.
A flurry of assaults led to an early breakaway with Nicklas Amdi Pedersen (TDT-Unibet Cycling Team) and Alexander Arnt Hansen (Airtox-Carl Ras).
The pair have been chased by a trio together with Corné van Kessel (Deschacht-Group Hens-Containers Maes), Stijn Appel (Beat Cycling Club) and Coen Vermeltfoort (VolkerWessels Cycling Team).
The chase group efforts have been shortlived, nonetheless, because the peloton reeled them in with 150km to go, and Aksel Bech Skot-Hansen (Team ColoQuick) counter-attacked and bridged throughout to the leaders on the street.
The peloton was all again along with 73km to go.
A brand new breakaway of two emerged that included Juri Hollmann (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Pier-André Côté (Israel Premier Tech Academy) however they solely managed to achieve a slim 20 seconds forward of a discipline led by Lotto Dstny.
A chase group shaped over the cobbles that included Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty), Arnaud De Lie and Pascal Eenkhoorn (Lotto Dstny), Sandy Dujardin (TotalEnergies) and Pim Ronhaar (Baloise-Trek Lions) inside 25km to go.
Hollmann attacked to go solo with 15km to go, as Pier-André Côté was absorbed into the chase group behind.
Hollman held simply 10 seconds with 3km to go, however his benefit would solely wane as he raced nearer to the end line. In the top, he would not make the flamme rouge, as an alternative being again 500 metres earlier.
A counterattack from Julien Vermote (Visma-Lease A Bike) late on could not disrupt the dash squads, and so the promised mass dash end got here to cross, with Kristoff popping out on high because the quickest man on the line.
Results
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