Dries De Bondt wins 75th edition of Heusdenkoers, 'the unofficial world championship of kermesse races'

Dries De Bondt has claimed victory in the 75th edition of the Heusdenkoers, a prestigious professional cycling race often referred to as the 'unofficial world championship of kermesse races.' The 35-year-old rider, competing for Team Jayco-AlUla, emerged fastest in a sprint among nine breakaway riders after completing 21 laps of the 8.15-kilometer course.

This marks De Bondt's second triumph at the Heusdenkoers, having previously won the race as a neo-professional in 2014. The race saw early attacks from riders like Fabio Van Den Bossche and Ceriel Desal, who were later joined by a large group of 31 cyclists. This substantial lead group eventually thinned down to nine riders in the final 55 kilometers.

The leading group maintained a significant advantage, holding a lead of 1 minute and 5 seconds over the peloton in the penultimate lap. De Bondt attempted to break away from the sprint in the final 7 kilometers, but was joined by Gil Gelders. A subsequent acceleration by Hartthijs de Vries was also countered, leading to the final sprint where De Bondt secured the win.

Gil Gelders finished second, and Yentl Vandevelde took third place. The Heusdenkoers is one of the few surviving Flemish kermesse races, facing challenges from rising costs and a crowded cycling calendar. Last year's edition saw its highest number of participants in a decade, highlighting its enduring popularity.