Jenno Berckmoes wins first professional edition of Muur Classic Geraardsbergen, Rick Ottema fourth

Jenno Berckmoes won the first professional edition of the Muur Classic Geraardsbergen. Lotto Dstny was the best puncher in the leading group that set off for victory on Vesten in Geraardsbergen. Behind Berckmoes, Tobias Haaland Johansson and Fabio Kristin were allowed to take the stage. Rick Ottema was the best Dutchman and the best continental rider in a good fourth place.

This year, the Muur Classic Geraardsbergen was a professional competition for the first time with the UCI 1.1 competition designation. It was the start of the fair race that has always been held there in August. This year’s course consists of six loops of 30 kilometres each, each lap including the Muur van Geraardsbergen (1.2 km at 7.3%), the Parikeberg (1 km at 3.8%) and the Denderoordberg (700 metres at 6.7%). The finish is after 180 kilometres on the Vesten, after a 500-metre climb at around 7%.

A seven-strong lead group dominated the race for much of the day. That group was about three minutes ahead of the peloton, which included top teams such as Intermarché-Wanty, Arkéa-B&B Hotels, Lotto Dstny and Uno-X Mobility, as well as training teams from Lidl-Trek and Alpecin-Deceuninck. That early ride didn’t work out.

exciting ending
On the last lap, six strong leaders faced a noticeably weaker team. These attackers kept the chasing group within 40 seconds of swinging, but Victor Vercoli (Flanders-Baloise), Lionel Tamino (Lotto Destiny), Fabio Kristen (Q36.5), Jochem Kerckhardt (Pitt), Rik Ottema (Dafter) and Anders Skarseth (Uno-X Mobility) almost got caught by the peloton in the Denderoordberg. There it was Tamino who, just before the summit, managed to overtake Kristen.

The two found each other and started the last five kilometres together, but were supported by a quartet of Tobias Haaland-Johansen, his teammate Skarseth, Gino Bergmoz and the tireless Uttema. Taminiaux wanted to prevent this merger, forcing the Uno-X to chase.

It all came down to Vesten, where Kristen played it as a surprise. However, there was no end to the race for Bergmoos, who won by force majeure. Bergmoos later stated that he had doubts about starting in the Muur Classic due to illness in recent days, but then he was happy to drive – because of his victory.

Haaland Johansen came in second and Christian in third. Fourth place went to Uttema. With Jelte Crijnsen, there was another Dutchman in the top ten in Belgium.