Søren Waerenskjold (Uno-X) is the first leader in the Baloise Belgium Tour. In a 12-kilometre time trial through the streets of Beringen, the 24-year-old Norwegian was two seconds faster than Czech Mathias Vacek. Rune Herregodts finished third at ten seconds.
Frenchman Quentin Bezza set the first target time of 13:45, after that the hot seat changed hands regularly. Dutchman Daan Hoole dipped below it first with 13:42, after which Alex Aranburu (13:41) shaved off another second.
However, the Spaniard did not enjoy first place for long. Mathias Vacek looked to be in with a chance of victory with a remarkable time of 13:26. Rune Herregodts was one of the favourites but finished immediately after Vacek in 13:34. In the end, the Belgian from Flanders-Baloise stranded in third place.
In the last wave of riders, all eyes were on Søren Wærenskjold and Alec Segaert. Wærenskjold was five seconds slower than Vacek at the intermediate point but rode a strong second part and clocked off in 13:24, good for an average of 53.730 kilometres per hour and the day’s victory.
For Wærenskjold this is the eighth pro win, his second of the season. In last year’s Baloise Belgium Tour, he was also good for a win in the time trial, then in the third stage in Beveren. The Norwegian is automatically the first leader in the Baloise Belgium Tour. Vacek, who took second place in the day’s ranking, is the first leader in the X²O Bathrooms Youth Classification.
Thursday will be a first opportunity for the sprinters. The second stage will take the peloton from Merelbeke to Knokke-Heist. The finish line is drawn there at 184.2 kilometres on the Wandelaar.
