Kasper Asgreen won E3 Classic on Friday crossing the line 30 seconds ahead of a chasing group unable to reel in his long-range attack.
The 26-year-old Dane, who won the Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne in 2020, made a spectacular move from 66km and his Deceuninck-Quick-Step teammates did all they could to hinder any pursuit in a one-day race featuring 18 hills and cobbled sections galore.
“To go solo for that long was not the plan but in the end when you’re off the front you just have to put your head down and make the most of it,” said the Dane.
But Asgreen admitted he had to bluff in the end as his own energy ran out.
“In the end, it was It was all or nothing. I knew I had to get there alone. Hard races are my biggest strength.”
Asgreen’s team got their tactics right with another Quick-Step man Florian Senechal second as their most feared threat Mathieu van der Poel came third.
“Deceuninck had five or six riders who could have won today, I didn’t want to be in a defensive situation but they are always very strong in the classics,” said Van der Poel.
