Sagan Wins The De Brabantse Pijl

Last updated : 10 April 2013 By Covsupport News Service

Cannondale's Peter Sagan won the De Brabantse Pijl - La Flèche Brabançonne.

This annual 200km race from Leuven to Overijse, which is seen as the traditional warm up for Sunday's Amstel Gold race, saw  Kenny DeHaes (Lotto Belisol), Nikolas Maes (Omega Pharma – Quick-Step), Ben Hermans (RadioShack Leopard), Youcef Reguigui (MTN Qhubeka), Jane Ghyselinck (Cofidis) and Ireland's Philip Deignan (UnitedHealthcare) get away after 46kms.

They built a lead of four minutes which was greatly reduced by some good work from Vacansoleil and Garmin Sharp with 85kms left before Youcef Reguigui (MTN Qhubeka) was shed,.

As the speed went up, there was crashes with one involving Denis Vanendert who managed to get back on his bike and continue and another taking out three riders. 

Radio Shack's Stijn Devolder attacked the escapers with 50kms to go. He and Gilbert, Sagan, Chavanel and van Avermaet who had escaped the clutches of the peloton were now only 23 seconds behind the front four.

Devolder caught the quartet on the Holstheide climb with 43kms to go and they were joined by Voss, Malacarne and Leukemans to form a nine man break.

It stayed that way until the final climb when Van Avermaet and Maes went clear with Peter Sagan chasing them  Maes was caught as Philippe Gilbert came up to join the action.

Gilbert started the sprint but Peter Sagan got on his wheel and made his move with 50kms to go to take the victory beating Gilbert, Leukemans  and Chavanel.