South African Reinardt Janse van Rensburg (RSA) has taken his first victory of the season at today's Memorial Frank Vandenbrouke, Binche-Chimay-Binche.
The race was, as expected, a very attacking one with groups coming and going but in the end it came down to a fast finish where Reinardt was able to unleash his blistering speed and add to Team Argos-Shimano's recent winning streak.
Reinardt, 24, has had many places of honour this season, including a second place last week at Franco Belge and a fourth place on a stage of the Dauphiné, but this is his first victory of 2013 and his first as a professional.
"Van Avermaet (BMC) put in a big attack in the last few hundred metres and I went after him together with Bjorn Leukemans (Vacansoleil-DCM)," said an elated Janse van Rensburg. We were all on our last legs but I was able get across and I kept on going.
"I was so whacked and I hoped that there was nobody behind me, there wasn't. I had enough gap to celebrate the victory which always make it special.
"The team was really focused from the beginning as we knew there was a good chance that a breakaway would go, so we were always in control and near the front.
"After the Vuelta I have felt better and better. It took me a couple of days to get back to good racing form, and in Franco Belge I was able to support John Degenkolb (GER) in his two stage wins and there I knew that I was feeling really good.
"This victory means a lot to me, it's my first win of the season and first since turning pro; and it comes after a long and hard season. I now have just two races left on my program, Paris-Tours and Putte Kapelle."
"The boys were really motivated after they had seen how strong Reinhardt was at Franco Belge last week," said coach Marc Reef (NED) in Belgium. "They were attentive the whole time today, but the race was always under the control of one team or another as everybody had something to race for.
"Even when a group of five riders got away late in the race, Bert De Backer (BEL) and Roy Curvers (NED) were on it immediately. We put Reinhardt in the right position and the way in which he finished it off is really impressive."