Jenno Berckmoes won the queen stage of the Baloise Belgium Tour on Saturday. After 173 kilometres, the 24-year-old rider from East Flanders was the fastest of a leading group of four on the Mur de Durbuy. Italian Filippo Baroncini finished fourth and is the new leader.
After twenty kilometres of racing, a leading group formed with Dylan Vandenstorme, Jens Reynders, Michiel Hillen, Yorben Lauryssen, Gianni Marchand, Tom Portsmouth, Alexys Brunel, Juan David Sierra and Axel Huens. They were given a three-minute lead. With 75 kilometres to go, leader Ethan Hayter counterattacked with twelve other riders, including Filippo Baroncini, Huub Artz and Connor Swift. Mortsmouth, Hillen and Lauryssen dropped out of the leading group.
With 70 kilometres to go, the groups merged into a leading group of 21 riders. This group broke up at the start of the final lap of 45 kilometres. While Hayter was struggling, Filippo Baroncini, Orluis Aular, Jenno Berckmoes and Marco Frigo joined forces.
In the Golden Kilometre, Frigo rode away from his companions and gained nine bonus seconds. However, the Italian was quickly caught up again. The final climb on the Mur de Durbuy would decide the race, Berckmoes proved to be the strongest of the quartet there. Frigo and Aular completed the podium.
Baroncini crossed the finish line in fourth place and replaces Ethan Hayter as leader in the general classification. The final stage, which starts and finishes in Brussels, promises more fireworks for the overall victory. With Hayter (at 4 seconds), Berckmoes (at 7 seconds) and Ganna (at 10 seconds), there are still three riders within ten seconds of the Italian from UAE Emirates.
