Dominique Cornu was eager to participate in the Sluitingsprijs in Putte-Kapellen in Belgium, but went to the wrong town. Arriving in Putte near Mechelen, the place was suspiciously void of spectators and other racers, but the Belgian managed to get across to the start with one minute to spare.
Cornu used his GPS to figure out he could still make it on time, with an estimated arrival time of 12:37 for the 12:45 race. His directeur sportif, Wilfried Peters told Sporza that “I directed someone to bring his bike to the start, so that he could jump on it quickly.”
The GPS was right and Peeters was happy his rider made the start. “At 12:43 he was on his bike and one minute before the start he signed in.”
The added adrenaline translated to an active race for Cornu, who quickly went into the break. However, he abandoned with two laps to go. The race was won by Denis Flahaut (Landbouwkrediet-Colnago), ahead of Veranda Willems riders Stefan Van Dijck and James Vanlandschoot. Italian Giovanni Visconti passed Kenny van Hummel in the Europe Tour UCI ranking at the very end of the season.
Cornu rides for Skil-Shimano next year. The surprise move away from Quick Step was a conscious step, Cornu told Sporza. “I didn’t feel too well supported at Quick Step. I like the philosophy of the team and I expect much from the intensity with which Skil supports its riders.”