Yoeri Havik and Fabio Van den Bossche are heading into the final day of the Lotto Six Days of Flanders-Ghent as leaders. The duo took over command in a frenzied first points race. Lindsay De Vylder and Robbe Ghys, the previous leaders, are now one lap down.
Dane Matias Malmberg was the strongest in the first points race. He held off Dutchman Philip Heijnen and German Tim Torn Teutenberg. The second points race went to Tuur Dens ahead of Dutchman Vincent Hoppezak and fellow Belgian Jules Hesters.
The team elimination became a duel between Fabio Van den Bossche/Yoeri Havik and Ethan Hayter/Fred Wright. After a millimetre sprint, the British tandem just edged ahead of the Belgian-Dutch pair.
Jan Willem van Schip and Tuur Dens mounted another attack on their one-lap track but a poor relay put paid to their chances and almost led to a crash. The win went to Lindsay De Vylder and Robbe Ghys.
A spectacular first madison of the evening evolved into a breathless barrage of attacks from various teams. Fabio Van den Bossche and Yoeri Havik took a double lap, but Iljo Keisse and Jasper De Buyst also battled for the win until the last lap. A final attack by Havik ultimately settled the score.
Keisse imperious behind the derny
A new leading duo emerged heading into the second part of the evening with Van den Bossch/Havik. The spoils of the first derny race and the Supersprint were shared between De Vylder and Dane Julius Johansen.
The second derny race was won by Iljo Keisse, his third during this edition of the Lotto Six Days of Flanders-Ghent. The emperor of ‘t Kuipke was put under pressure by compatriot Jules Hesters, but mounted a stunning comeback. To the delight of the ecstatic home crowd, Keisse overruled Hesters on the final lap.
New leaders
In the final events, the 500-metre sprint and the madison, Havik and Van den Bossche did not relinquish their lead. On the contrary, by winning the 500-metres the duo secured another 20 crucial points. Jules Hesters and Tim Torn Teutenberg took the win in the final madison.
Heading into the final day, Havik and Van den Bossche (270 points) are defending a one-lap lead on Ghys/De Vylder (276), who do have a points advantage. Keisse/De Buyst (144) follow two laps down, while Hesters/Torn Teutenberg (196) are three laps behind the leaders.
