In Houffalize, Tim Smeenge confirmed his good shape of the last few weeks by finishing second in the Roc d’Ardenne behind Belgian winner Wout Alleman. The Belgian Frans Claes crossed the finish line in third place ahead of the Briton Ben Thomas and the Swiss Martin Fanger. Smeenge’s teammate Teus Ruijter came in eighth as the second Dutchman.
´With 115 kilometers and almost 3500 vertical meters, this was a completely different marathon than the two marathons I recently won in Germany. The average speed was clearly lower here and this race also had a stronger field of participants and I am very pleased that I can also compete on this terrain and starting field at the front. The BeMC will also take place in this area in three weeks. In that four-day stage race I hope to achieve a good result as well.”, says Smeenge.