Robin Stenuit has won the 90th edition of the Schaal Sels. After the 195,6 kilometre long race in and around Merksem, Stenuit beat Olivier Naesen (Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise) in a sprint á deux.

"Winning a 1.1-race as a stagiaire for Wanty-Groupe Gobert is the best thing that could have happened to me," Stenuit beamed after the finish.

With a course that included 33 cobbled sections and 19 unpaved roads, it wasn't to be an easy day out on Sunday in Belgium. Out of the 152 riders, only 19 finished.

"It was a great course. Something completely different than the flat courses we ride normally," the winner of the Mémorial Van Coningsloo (UCI 1.2) declared.

One of the most memorable moments of the cycling year was the neutralization of the race.

"The commissaire's car got stuck in a cornfield. The organization didn't have much luck with that but they aren't really to blame, I think. They offered us a great parcours and I hope to see the race continue in this form," Stenuit declared.

After the 40-minute interruption the race restarted. A 16-rider strong group escaped from the peloton including Wanty-Groupe Gobert's Robin Stenuit. He had to take on a very strong Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise who had four men up front.

"I thought this wouldn't end well because the Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise riders are real warriors," Stenuit declared. At 70 kilometres from the finish Jelle Wallays tried his luck and Stenuit initially tried to follow.

"It was very clear this wasn't a rider I should let go. He is good with these sort of long escapes though we didn't have any information at that moment how far it would be. I had no idea it was still such a long way to the line," Stenuit admits.

From the background riders came back and Wallays tried again. On the local laps it was Stenuit riding away with Oliver Naesen (Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise).

On the local circuits, I attacked with Oliver Naesen and Kevin Ista. Oliver Naesen attacked directly. I followed. I knew the attack stood a chance if it included a Topsport rider." 

Eventually the two stayed away and it became a sprint á deux which Wanty-Groupe Gobert's stagiaire won.

"We looked at each other. I knew he was fast so I started my sprint. We know each other very well. He didn't succeed in passing me anymore. I hope to convince the leaders of my qualities for next year. "

Robin Stenuit's victory is Wanty-Groupe Gobert's seventh of the season and the third this week! Last Sunday Bjorn Leukemans won the GP Jef Scherens and on Wednesday it was Jérôme Baugnies taking victory in the Druivenkoers.

"We are in a good vibe at the moment. The negative phase we were in at the start of the season has finally changed. Today it's another rider again who imposes. It shows the depth of our team," sports director Steven De Neef concluded.