Sep Vanmarcke finished third in the Tour of Flanders. Team LottoNL-Jumbo’s front man jumped to Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) and Michal Kwiatkowski (Team Sky) after they attacked just before the final climb of the Oude Kwaremont. Sagan, however, dropped Vanmarcke on the Paterberg and left the Belgian to claim third behind Fabian Cancellara (Trek).

The 100th edition of the Tour of Flanders didn’t run completely smooth for Sep Vanmarcke. Team LottoNL-Jumbo’s front man crashed in the descent to Kortekeer after 120 kilometres of racing. “I returned in the peloton, but I noticed the damage of my crash, Vanmarcke said. “My bike broke and it took a while before I was back in the race. I had changed the position of my saddle on purpose, just before the race, and I didn’t have the chance to do that with my second bike as well. After 170 kilometres, I suffered.”

Team-mates

“My team-mates gave it all to bring me back in the race. Maarten Wynants did a lot of work in the beginning of the final,” he added. “I was still feeling good on the climbs. When Sagan and Kwiatkowski attacked, I felt that it was going to be the decisive moment in the race. I had to close the gap to them immediately. Behind me, there was a moment of doubt and that was a perfect situation for me.”

Hectic

When Kwiatkowski was distanced by Sagan on the final climb of the Oude Kwaremont, Vanmarcke followed. Afterwards, though, the world champion dropped him on the Paterberg and left him to battle with Cancellara who chased from behind. 

"This is a great performance by Sep,” Sports Director Jan Boven said. “When you look at the problems we faced during the race and the way we got over it, you have to say that Sep did a great job. It was a hectic race and many big teams were facing problems. Sep was sharp when Sagan and Kwiatkowski attacked and he was the only one who was able to follow Sagan on the Oude Kwaremont. We are satisfied with this third place.”