Michael Vanthourenhout has won the Superprestige Ruddervoorde. The Belgian from Pauwels Sauzen-Vastgoedservice was just too strong in a sprint duel against Joris Nieuwenhuis. Niels Vandeputte completed the top three.
Toon Aerts, Michael Vanthourenhout, Niels Vandeputte, Joran Wyseure, Joris Nieuwenhuis, Laurens Sweeck... The first big GC race of the 2025-2026 season featured many top contenders. Emiel Verstrynge was also there and got off to the best start. Soon after, Vandeputte took over, and the Alpecin-Deceuninck rider immediately put the rest under pressure. He came through first after the opening lap, but the gaps were still small.
Nieuwenhuis Launches the Attack
This was the scene during the first laps. The peloton stretched out in a long line, but no decisive splits appeared. Some riders did struggle when Verstrynge and Pim Ronhaar crashed consecutively at the barriers. Michael Vanthourenhout was well positioned and pushed hard, but he couldn’t break away on his own yet. Joris Nieuwenhuis succeeded in doing so. With six laps to go, he stepped up the pace and immediately built a nice gap as the Dutch rider.
He stayed solo in front for a few laps, but with three laps remaining, four riders caught him again. It was Vanthourenhout, Aerts, Vandeputte, and Wyseure who bridged back. It seemed the contest would be among these five, but then Toon Vandebosch returned and was followed by Sweeck, Jente Michels, and Kevin Kühn joining the group. Sweeck and Kühn then each launched their own attacks. The latter started the final lap together with Aerts, Vanthourenhout, and Nieuwenhuis at the front, but it was still a very close race.
Sprint Between Nieuwenhuis and Vanthourenhout
Nieuwenhuis led for much of the final lap, but Vanthourenhout overtook him on foot in the sand section. The Belgian then refused to relinquish the lead. It was up to Nieuwenhuis to beat him in the sprint, but Aerts crashed in third position just before the final straight. Vanthourenhout and Nieuwenhuis then had an exciting sprint, which was narrowly won by the leader: Vanthourenhout. He edged out the Dutchman. Third place went to Niels Vandeputte.
Telenet Superprestige Ruddervoorde| Rank | Rider | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 01:01:51 | |
| 2 | " | |
| 3 | + 02 | |
| 4 | + 03 | |
| 5 | + 04 | |
| 6 | + 10 | |
| 7 | + 14 | |
| 8 | + 17 | |
| 9 | " | |
| 10 | + 20 |
