The opening Madison of the one centesimal Gent Six Day was interrupted on Tuesday by a heavy crash with Stijn Steels the worst off. The Belgian was taken away on a stretcher however was acutely aware, though in ache, and waved as the group cheered him off.
The pile-up got here halfway via the primary main point-scoring occasion of the night for the elite males’s discipline. Jules Hesters and Tim Torn Teutenberg, racing within the yellow of Sport Vlaanderen, botched an trade and each got here down.
Coming in quick from behind, Fabio Van den Bossche tried to steer round however slid out within the path of Steels, who fell head-first down the steeply banked observe in ‘t Kuipke.
Racing resumed with Lindsay De Vylder and Robbe Ghys (Baloise Insurance coverage) taking the 20 factors for the victory, ending forward of hometown hero Iljo Keisse – racing in his closing Gent Six Day – and Lotto Souda/Quickstep teammate Jasper De Buyst.
Van den Bossche bought again up and, after a neutralisation, completed third with BelgaClima/DS Plastics teammate Yoeri Havik. Hesters and Teutenberg had been fourth, whereas Steels and teammate Silvan Dillier had been categorized three laps down.
