On the Mont de l'Enclus, where the finish line of the Circuit Franco-Belge starting from Tournai was located for a total of 206.7 kilometers, Jonas Abrahamsen's wheel emerges. The Norwegian from Uno X, winner of the eleventh stage of the Tour de France in Toulouse, resists and breaks away in the last 150 meters, preceding New Zealander Corbin Strong (Israel Premier Tech) and Spanish rider Jan Castellon from Caja Rural.

OUR REPORT
The first piece of news for us Italians happens even before the start, in the wide and fairytale-like central square of the first Belgian town encountered from the French border: at the start is Filippo Conca, making his debut with Jayco AlUla wearing the tricolore after the sensational national championship at the end of June. Then it's time for the race, the 84th edition of this explosive Walloon-Flemish event. Initially five riders break away: Gianni Marchand (Tarteletto Isorex), Jonathan Vervenne (Soudal Quick-Step Devo), Mats Omloop (Volker Wessels), Tom Portsmouth (Wagner Bazin) and Ludovic Robeet (Cofidis) to whom are added at various moments, in order, Alexys Brunel (Total Energies), Samuele Zoccarato (Polti VisitMalta), Frank Van den Broek (Picnic PostNL), Floris Van Tricht (Israel Premier Tech) and Fabio Christen (Q36.5). But as soon as the group reaches ten riders, 56 km from the finish on the third of five Knokteberg passages, Vervenne accelerates and leaves the other nine to their fate of being reabsorbed. Even his combative solo effort has an end, about twenty kilometers later, on the penultimate Knokteberg. At that moment, a new attack immediately breaks out: Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno X), Jonas Geens (Flanders Baloise), Martin Tjotta (Arkea B&B) and Xandro Meurisse (Alpecin Deceuninck) who in the next twenty kilometers see Tjotta and Geens unable to maintain the pace, while at the foot of the last Knokteberg they become a trio as Abrahamsen and Meurisse are joined by Christen. On the last summit, with 10 km to go, a quartet of chasers forms behind them: Dylan Teuns (Cofidis), Rick Pluimers (Tudor), Markus Hoelgaard (Uno X), Joseph Blackmore (Israel Premier Tech). The ensuing arm-wrestling is thrilling: the final ramp is a mix of regrouping, bursts and a powerful return of the main peloton.

TOP-TEN

1 Abrahamsen Jonas Uno-X Mobility 04:54:32

2 Strong Corbin Israel-Premier Tech + 00

3 Prades Eduard Caja Rural-Seguros RGA + 00

4 Hirschi Marc Tudor Pro Cycling Team + 00

5 Aranburu Alex Cofidis + 00

6 Venturini Clément ARKEA-B&B HOTELS + 00

7 Tiller Rasmus Uno-X Mobility + 00

8 Etxeberria Haimar Equipo Kern Pharma + 00

9 Hoelgaard Markus Uno-X Mobility + 00

10 Christen Fabio Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team + 00