Deceuninck – Quick-Step Team duo lie in second overall after an intense day in the Kuipke Velodrome.
Sporting an official Deceuninck – Quick-Step Team track jersey, Iljo Keisse and Elia Viviani got off to a perfect start at the 78th Six Days of Gent, with the home favourite giving the fans something to cheer about as soon as the gun went off, as he opened the account with a spectacular victory in the first points race.
A six-time winner of the famed event, Iljo – who is making his first outing here since 2016 – was on fire throughout the night, putting on display his class and tactical acumen on the way to a second success, in the team elimination race. Another win, this time in the Derny race, backed by a strong runner-up of Olympic Champion Elia Viviani in the supersprint and two more podiums (Madison and scratch) helped the pair increase their lead at the top of the overall standings ahead of the last Madison race of the evening.
There, the ranking was altered once the Team TUI riders managed to lap the peloton, installing themselves in first place, despite the fact that when everything was said and done, the Deceuninck – Quick-Step Team duo had amassed the most points across the day's eleven races. Despite this late setback, Iljo and Elia's hopes of overall glory weren't deterred in any way, giving that the Six Days of Gent is still in its infancy.
General classification:
1. Wim Stroetinga – Youri Havik – 42 points
2. Iljo Keisse – Elia Viviani – 73 points (+1 lap)
3. Robbe Ghys – Kenny De Ketele – 57 points (+1 lap)
Photo credit: ©Luc Claessen/ Getty Images
