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Keukeleire kicks to win Nokere Koerse
Jens Keukeleire won his third race as a professional hitting the line first in the one-day Nokere Koerse semi-classic held in Belgium.
The 21-year-old, riding for Cofidis, beat compatriot Kris Boeckermans (Topsport Vlaanderen) and Dutchman Bobbie Traksel (Vancasoleil) in a sprint finish at the end of the 192.9 kilometre race through Flanders.
The young Belgian his been on a hot streak this season, winning the GP Samyn and Ronde van West-Vlaanderen earlier this season, and has notched up top-10 placings in the Volta au Algarve and Challenge Mallorca.
"Last week I said my season had already been a success after two wins but now this happens. I'm super happy," Keukeleire said.
"I was not that strong today and not the best in the peloton but in the final four kilometres I had four team-mates working for me. That they're willing to ride for is incredible and did a great job."
Australia's Mitch Docker riding for the Skil-Shimano team, finished 21 seconds behind the winner.
Final classification: 192.9km.
1 Jens Keukeleire (Bel) Cofidis 4:35:00, 2 Kris Boeckmans (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen, 3 Bobbie Traksel (Ned) Vacansoleil, 4 Kenny Dehaes (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto, 5 Klaas Lodewyck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen, 6 John Murphy (Usa) BMC, 7 Stefan Van Dijk (Ned) Verandas Willems, 8 Porsev Alexander (Rus) Itera Katusha, 9 Danilo Wyss (Sui) BMC, 10 Roger Kluge (Ger) Milram.
