Dutchman Riesebeek runner-up in first Belgian professional race since Corona | Right away

Dutchman Oscar Riesebeek finished second at the Grand Prix Vermarc Sport in Rotselaar on Sunday. Frenchman Florian Sénéchal has won the first Belgian professional race since the Corona crisis.

The 26-year-old Sénéchal (Deceuninck-Quick-Step) drove in the last of ten laps over 15.4 kilometers from his fellow riders Riesebeek and Victor Campenaerts and drove solo to victory. The Belgian campenaerts (NTT Pro Cycling) crossed the finish line in third place behind Riesebeek (Alpecin-Fenix).

The GP Vermarc Sport was the first serious cycling race since mid-March, when Paris-Nice was closed a day earlier than planned due to the COVID-19 virus. In the Flemish Brabant-Brabant-Brabant Rotselaar, some WorldTour riders were at the start for a race over a total of 164 kilometers with two hills in each corner.

According to the rules, only 200 fans were allowed to participate. The start and finish zone was closed to the public, and along the route the trailers were instructed to keep sufficient distance.

Eddy Merckx gave up the start – with a mouth cap on – after the riders observed a minute’s silence at a practice race in Wortegem-Petegem on Saturday at the age of twenty Belgian Niels De Vriendt. The riders of the VDM Trawobo Cycling Team took part in the GP Vermarc Sport as a tribute to their team-mates.

For the users of the app, tap the video to view the custom stage ceremony.