Baugnies (4th) confirms excellent shape in tough race

Jérôme Baugnies gained a fourth place in the unpaved race Dwars door het Hageland (1.1, 15/06). A group of ten riders accelerated at the start of the fifth race of the Belgian Cup, including our Timothy Dupont, just back from altitude training in Livigno, and top favorite Mathieu Van der Poel. The group never got more than a 1'30 "advantage and was caught by the reduced peloton after a long battle.

In the final lap around the Citadel of Diest, a select group battled for victory. Krists Neilands rode to a solo victory. Jérôme Baugnies, Tom Devriendt, Wesley Kreder and again Dupont were part of the chasing group. After a fierce battle Jérôme Baugnies finished close to the podium with a fourth place. With Kreder (8th) and Dupont (10th) three WGG riders finished in the top 10.

Jérôme Baugnies:

"The legs did not feel so good in the beginning of the race, but it went better as the race progressed. In the final I even felt  one of the strongest in the race. Too bad we did not fight for the victory, but the cooperation in the chase behind the leader was not optimal. I felt really strong in the uphill sections, but in the downhill I was less confident. Especially in the dangerous corners I did not want to take too many risks because of the Belgian championship next weekend. "

"That championships will take place next Sunday in Binche, on a course that should suit me. And it is on the home ground of our main sponsor Wanty. I have been thinking about Binche for a long time, and today I have proved that the form is good. I want to fine-tune it in Elfstedenronde and Halle-Ingooigem, and after that last race I will do some motorpace training.Then my focus will shift to Sunday. "

Results

1. Krists Neilands
2. Elia Viviani
3. Gianni Vermeersch
4. Jérôme Baugnies
8. Wesley Kreder
10. Timothy Dupont
13. Tom Devriendt
20. Guillaume Van Keirsbulck
24. Frederik Backaert
DNF Mark McNally