Team LottoNL-Jumbo rider Dylan Groenewegen won the Tour de l'Eurométropole. In the streets of Tournai, he outsprinted the Belgians Oliver Naesen (IAM) and Tom Boonen (Etixx) after a hard race. Maarten Wynants of Team LottoNL-Jumbo was also in the leading group and placed ninth.

"This was a very difficult day because of the wind and rain, I'm glad I won this race. When I crossed the line I felt cramps everywhere and I was freezing.” Groenewegen said. “The whole day the peloton went fast, but we were there as a team every time. First with seven men in a group of 50 and when the peloton thinned further, we always had enough riders in it. In the final Maarten Wynants seemed to be racing for the victory, but when we came back I could sprint for the victory.”

After the finish, Oliver Naesen was not happy with Groenewegen's sprint. "The sprint was chaotic as the leading group was caught in the final meters," Groenewegen said. "I first had to go pass the leading group and then pass Debusschere. I certainly went to the left, but I left enough room to pass."

Frans Maassen

Sports Director Frans Maassen saw a strong team today. "It was racing from kilometre zero. We were prepared and were as a team rode perfectly in the race. In the final, we only had Wynants join the leading group. Because the leaders of Etixx, Gaviria and Boonen, were in it, Maarten Wynants didn't have to go full gas. We had Groenewegen still in the group behind."

Wynants attacked with Lampaert and Naesen. Behind this leading group, the two groups came together and Groenewegen was back in the first chasing group. "Then suddenly we were back in a very good position. Wynants went for the win and was going full gas. For me it was a big surprise that the leaders fell back and Groenewegen could sprint for the win."

World Championship

Groenewegen departs Tuesday for Qatar. "This was my last test before the Worlds. I had to go pretty deep and that was according to plan. It was nice that it was windy, because that may be the case in Qatar, although I'm glad it's going to be less cold in Qatar."