Liam Van Bylen wins Omloop het Nieuwsblad U23
Liam Van Bylen has won the Omloop het Nieuwsblad U23. The Belgian rider was the fastest in a sprint from a large group, beating Tobias Muller and Marvin Peters.
It wasn’t until the Berendries that a significant breakaway formed. Thirteen riders, including Wannes Dewulf (The Lead Out Cycling Academy), Seppe Leman (DL Chemicals – Experza Cycling Team), Mike Bronswijk (Diftar Continental Cycling Team), Ibe D’Hondt (Mini Discar Cycling Team), Steijn Oosterveld (Parkhotel Valkenburg / Regioteam NH), Quinten De Buysser (VDM-Trawobo Cycling Team), and Jelle Weierink (Volkerwessels Cycling Team / Wilvo Group), managed to gain a maximum lead of 41 seconds on the peloton.
However, their effort didn’t last long, as everything came back together on the Valkenberg. Shortly after, nine riders launched a new attack: Bronswijk, D’Hondt, and De Buysser were part of it again, joined this time by Ferre Geeraerts (DL Chemicals – Experza Cycling Team), Victor Hannes (Wanty – Nippo – Reuz), Corneel Vanslembrouck (Dovy Keukens – FCC-), Mauro Cuylits & Liam Van Bylen (Lotto Development Team), and Renato Favero (Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team). The group built up a one-minute lead over a shattered peloton.
As they entered Herzele, the front part of the peloton rejoined the leaders, forming a front group of around 45 riders. In the local laps around Herzele, Bart Kortleve (Metec – Solarwatt P/B Mantel), Warre Van Den Meersche (VDM-Trawobo Cycling Team), Tim Naberman (Volkerwessels Cycling Team / Wilvo Group), Arne De Maere (Mini Discar Cycling Team), and Victor Vaneeckhoutte (Lotto Development Team) launched an attack. The latter showed great legs and broke away solo just before the final lap.
The Belgian extended his lead to 32 seconds, but couldn’t hold off the peloton. In the final sprint from the reduced bunch, Liam Van Bylen proved the strongest. Tobias Muller (Wanty – Nippo – Reuz) and Marvin Peters (Diftar Continental Cycling Team) joined him on the podium. Van Bylen is the sixth Lotto rider in a row to celebrate victory in the Omloop het Nieuwsblad U23.
