Maxime Vantomme Wins Le Samyn

Last updated : 05 March 2014 By Covsupport News Service

Belgian Maxime Vantomme of the Roubaix-Lille Métropole team won the Le Samyn one day race in Belgium.

First run in 1968, Le Samyn is named after French road race Jose Samyn who won a stage of the Tour De France but died in 1969.

The race won in the past by Philippe Gilbert and last year, Katusha's Alexey Tsatevich, is from Frameries in the Fayt-le-Franc region to Dour, saw Sijmens, Van de Maele and Hubert with a lead of just under three minutes going into the final ninety kilometres.

Omega Pharma sent six of their riders after them in a nine man chasing group and with 67kms to go, the escapers had been caught and twelve riders in Vanendert, Alaphilippe, Andy Fenn, Keisse, Vakoc, Van Keirsbulck, Velits, Maikin, Sijmes, Van de Malle, Kaise & Hubert took over on the front 

This group was caught with just over fifty one kilometres to go and four attacked which dropped down to just Thomas De Gendt and Gougeard, who had a 41 second lead with 34kms left.

Twelve kilometres on and this latest attack was caught and a new one started with Vandewalle, Planckaert, Vorobyev, Lemarchand, and Kern in the front group. and Lagutin, Mondory, and Delfosse bridging across.

They were joined by Marycz and Henderson to form a ten man group for the final sixteen kilometres of this 195.9km race.

On the Cote de la Roquette for the final time with ten kilometres remaining and Marycz opened up a slight gap.

Andy Fenn of Omega Pharma Quick Step tried to get away from the peloton and catch this group but was quickly reeled in.

Riders in the front group started to attack and this not working together ensured that they were caught with 5.2 kilometres left.

Delfosse tried to go it alone but into the final kilometre Isaychev led. he was caught with 300 metres to go and Maxime Vantomme of the Roubaix-Lille Métropole team took the win ahead of Tsatevich, Bouhanni, Corbel, Sbaragli, Napolitano, Chainel, Ciolek, Waeytens and Dernies.