15/06/2023

Fabio Jakobsen takes victory in chaotic final to stage 2 of the Baloise Belgium Tour

Fabio Jakobsen has sprinted to victory in a chaotic finally to stage 2 of the Baloise Belgium Tour after a late crash had ruled out both Jasper Philipsen and Caleb Ewan.

Stage 2 of the race sees the riders head towards the Atlantic ocean and the pan-flat roads of western Belgium. From Merelbeke to Knokke-Heist, the sprinters will likely have another opportunity in a day that can be dangerous with it's exposure to the wind.

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After a break of six-riders went up the road they were swallowed up by the peloton with 34km to go.

As the wind picked up and the pace in the peloton was incredibly high, echelons began to come into play as the bunch was ripped into pieces.

At the golden kilometre with around 13km to go, Rasmus Tiller took the first sprint ahead of Mathieu van der Poel, Mathias Vacek took the second sprint with Yves Lampaert taking the third and final sprint.

With 4km to go a big crash rocked the peloton with both Caleb Ewan and the race leader, Jasper Philipsen going down hard.

As the race carried on up front, it was Fabio Jakobsen who opened up the sprint and he was unstoppable, taking a dominant victory.