Eeckhout can still do the business; pictured here up the road today (Photo: [email protected])
Ireland’s Ronan McLaughlin was forced to sacrifice his chance of finishing in the lead group in the Belgian semi classic Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne today, Sunday, when team orders dictated he give his bike to team mate Gediminas Bagdonas after the Lithuanian had a late mechanical.
The unfortunate turn of events meant McLaughlin never got back on to the peloton and was listed as a non finisher.
An Post-Sean Kelly veteran sprinter Niko Eeckhout rode a great race and was off the front for much of the day.
The 41-year-old former Belgian champion made it into the main escape with six others in the 198km event. When Greg van Avermaet (BMC Racing) attacked with around 90km remaining, Eeckhout was the only one able to go with him, with the duo remaining out front for around another 15km before being caught by the peloton.
The race ended in a bunch sprint won by world champion Mark Cavendish (Team Sky). Bagdonas was An Post-Sean Kelly’s highest placed rider, coming home 35th in the bunch sprint.
Result
1) Mark Cavendish Sky Procycling
2) Yauheni Hutarovich FDJ-Big Mat
3) Kenny Robert Van Hummel Vacansoleil-DCM
An Posts
35) Gediminas Bagdonas
56) Niels Wytinck
58) Pieter Ghyllebert
79) Stijn Ennekens all same time
120) Niko Eeckhout - at 40 seconds
DNF Ronan McLaughlin
All photos courtesy [email protected] & An Post-Sean Kelly
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