Place Name: Enclus Du Haut
Address: Enclus Du Haut 37, 7750 Mont-de-l'Enclus, Hainaut, Belgium
Details: August 15, 2025
Many race names in Northern Europe are just vestiges of old races from a bygone era such as the 4 Jours de Dunkerque, E3 Saxo Classic, and Gent-Wevelgem but the Circuit Franco-Belge is not one of them. The race actually starts in France and finishes with local laps in Belgium. The 206KM race leaves Tournai and heads West into Flanders to take on the Kluisberg, Col du Hortilin, and the Côte du Trieu on five laps with the finish atop the Kluisberg in Mont-de-l'Enclus.
Five riders got up the road to make the early break including Mats Omloop of VolkerWessels, Jonathan Vervenne of the Soudal Quickstep Devo Team, Gianni Marchand of Tarteletto-Isorex, Tom Portsmouth of Wagner-Bazin WB, and Ludovic Robeet of Cofidis. They had a maximum gap of a little over 3 minutes but they would not be battling for the win. Uno-X Mobility strong man, Jonas Abrahamsen, won the day in his first race since finishing the Tour de France three weeks ago. An attack with 300M to go on the steep ramps of the Kluisberg caught others napping and by the time anyone reacted, the gap was too large to close down. Corbin Strong of Israel-Premier Tech could have made the catch if the race was 20M longer but he ran out of road and finished second. Eduard Prades of Caja Rural-Seguros RGA was next across the line in third place.
Tags: Circuit Franco-Belge, 2025, August, Tournai, Mont-de-l'Enclus, Mats Omloop, Jonathan Vervenne, Gianni Marchand, Tom Portsmouth, Ludovic Robeet, Jonas Abrahamsen, Corbin Strong, Eduard Prades