Iljo Keisse and Elia Viviani have taken over the lead from Tosh Van der Sande and Jasper De Buyst after the fourth night of the Lotto Six Days of Flanders-Ghent. Lotte Kopecky leads the women’s event.
On a very competitive night leaders Jasper De Buyst and Tosh Van der Sande started off well by winning the first points race. The second points race went to Kenny De Ketele/Robbe Ghys with Iljo Keisse/Elia Viviani winning the team elimination. The one-lap race went to Moreno De Pauw and Lyndsay De Vylder.
Five teams started the first madison on the same lap. Keisse/Viviani had taken over the lead from De Buyst/Van der Sande, who were also passed by the duo De Ketele/Ghys.
The first madison was the scene of a heavy battle between Keisse/Viviani and De Ketele/Ghys. In the final sprint Iljo Keisse proved to be a little bit quicker than Robbe Ghys.
In the second madison the top teams were closely matched. At the end the young Belgians Hesters/Vergaerde were the strongest while Keisse and Viviani claimed the overall lead with two nights to go.
On Friday night Lotte Kopecky won the first women’s event at Het Kuipke. Kopecky beat Amy Cure and Kirstie Van Haaften in the points race. Kristen Wild is fourth, Jolien D’Hoore follows in sixth.
