Gerben Tegesen narrowly defeats Caleb Ewan
Gerben Tijsen won the 12th edition of the Grand Prix Jean-Pierre Monser (1.1), Sunday, after 198.6 km between Ichtegem and Roeselare. The Intermarché-Circus-Wanty rider won the race ahead of Australians Caleb Ewan (Lotto Dstny) and Sam Welsford (DSM).
Nine riders survived after about thirty kilometers: Thibau Verhofstadt (Tarteletto – Isorex), New Zealander Ryan Christensen (Bolton Equities Black Spoke), Carlos Canal of Spain (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Canadian Nicholas Zukowski (Q36.5), Dane Emil Toudal (ColoQuick) ), Briton Zak Coleman (VolkerWessels) as well as Dutchman Rick Bloemers (Tudor), Water van den Weerdhoff (Allinq) and Hope Arts (Metec-SOLARWATT p / b Mantel).
A regroup took place 23km from the finish. Despite a few tries, a small group eventually showed up, as Gerben Thijssen (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty) came back in full swing on Australian Caleb Ewan (Lotto Dstny). A few minutes later, a photo finish declared Thijssen the winner. The Belgian rider, 24, scored the fourth success of his career, his first of the season. This is the seventh victory for Intermarché-Circus-Wanty in 2023.
Australian Sam Wellsford (DSM), France’s Hugo Hofstetter (Arcaia Samsic) and Pete Allegerts (Cofidis) round out the top five in that order.
Thijssen succeeds Arnaud De Lie on the list.
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