BELGIUM, March 29, 2018 - Belgium's time-trial champion Yves Lampaert saw off favourites Greg Van Avermaet and Edvald Boasson Hagen to defend his Dwars door Vlaanderen title and boost his hopes in Sunday's Tour of Flanders. Quick Step rider Lampaert beat out Dutchman Mike Teunissen and Belgian Sep Vanmarcke after springing clear 500m from the line to claim victory in the rain-hit Belgian semi-classic 180km cobbled road race. Lampaert was one of five riders to break away with 25km to go to surprise Norwegian Boasson Hagen and Olympic champion Van Avermaet, who eventually finished fourth and eighth respectively. Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka's Edvald Boasson Hagen finished fourth in the Dwars Door Vlaanderen in Belgium. I am happy but also disappointed with today's race. It was a hard race which made it good for me. I was always in a good position near the front, and I felt good enough to be part of all the definitive moves." "I am pleased to have been part of the final and can take confidence from the positive signs of my form coming, but obviously I would have liked more from today's race after coming so close," Boasson Hagen commented after the race Last year's Tour of Flanders winner Philippe Gilbert of Belgium and Slovakian world champion Peter Sagan opted out of the race.
