Results Heistse Pijl 2026 - Noah Hobbs takes first career win as 21-year-old best in bunch sprint

Noah Hobbs took his first career victory at Heiste Pijl on Saturday as the 21-year-old edged out a bunch sprint. The EF Education - Easypost man, just 21-years-old, was the fastest on the day as the bunch went to a sprint following a fast and furious day in the saddle.

The Belgian one day race features 187.5 kilometers and six laps of a largely flat local lap around the Heist-op-den-Berg circuit. With just a short 700 meter climb of the Heistse Berg at 2.4% gradient including a cobbled section, a lot of riders were fancying their chances of success.

With 100 kilometers to go, it looked to be a race of attrition with no breakaway and a flying average speed of 46.5 km/h. Michiel Coppens and Louis Chaleil did however establish the day's breakaway.

The Belgian and French duo grew their gap to over 2:20 with under 60 kilometers to go but faced an uphill battle as they tried to hold onto their lead. There were plenty of attacks and action in the peloton as the break's lead dropped to just 49 seconds with 20 kilometers to go.

Coppens soon went solo at the front as the chase intensified in the final lap. He held a gap of around 25 seconds with 10 kilometers to go. But the inevitable came with 7.5 kilometers to go as the bunch reset for a tense finale.

Cofidis, TotalEnergies and Unibet Rose Rockets were among the most active as the race soared towards a sprint finish. But it was EF Education-Easypost who got the last laugh as Noah Hobbs took victory.

Søren Wærenskjold took second place for Uno-X Mobility while Milan Fretin rounded out the podium. It's a first professional win for the British rider, however, who has underlined some impressive performances earlier this season to get his first victory.

Hobbs has been in the top ten five times this season before today's race, including third in a stage of the Volta a Catalunya and another third in Region Pays de la Loire Tour.