Norway’s Søren Wærenskjold (Uno-X Mobility) took the biggest win of his career when he outsprinted Frenchman Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step) and the home favourite, Belgium’s Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck), in the bunch finish of Het Nieuwsblad in Ninove.
A last-minute replacement by his team because of the strong headwind in the final part of the race that was likely to nullify attacks, 24-year-old sprinter Wærenskjold came out of the slipstream of Ineos Grenadiers’ Sam Watson, who was the first rider to launch his effort. Going up the right-hand barriers, the Norwegian then held off Philipsen and the fast-finishing Magnier, who came through to clinch second place.
