{{Infobox cycling race report | name = 2021 Primus Classic | image =2021_Primus_Classic.jpg | image_caption =Event poster with previous winner Edward Theuns | image_size = | series = 2021 UCI Europe Tour <br /> 2021 UCI ProSeries | race_no = | season_no = | date = 18 September 2021 | stages = 1 | distance = 197.7<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.impanis-vanpetegem.be/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Primus-Classic-2021-Wegwijzer-en-uurrooster-Versie-05-augustus-2021.pdf|title=WEGWIJZER & UURROOSTER / ITINÉRAIRE & HORAIRE / TRACK & SCHEDULE|publisher=Primus Classic|date=5 August 2021|access-date=18 September 2021}}</ref>{{sfn|''Technical Guide''|2021|pp=29-39}} | unit = km | time = 4h 34' 05" | first = Florian Sénéchal | first_nat = FRA | first_team = {{UCI team code|DQT|2021}} | second = Tosh Van der Sande | second_nat = BEL | second_team = {{UCI team code|LTS|2021}} | third = Jasper Stuyven | third_nat = BEL | third_team = {{UCI team code|TFS men|2021}} | previous = 2019 | next = 2022 }}
The '''2021 Primus Classic''' (also known as the '''Grand Prix Impanis-Van Petegem''') was the 23rd edition of the Primus Classic road cycling one day race, which was held on 18 September 2021 as part of the 2021 UCI Europe Tour and the 2021 UCI ProSeries calendars.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uci.org/competition-details/2021/ROA/64701|title=Primus Classic|publisher=Union Cycliste Internationale|access-date=18 September 2021}}</ref> This edition was the race's first in the UCI ProSeries; the 2020 edition was expected to feature in the inaugural UCI ProSeries but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref name="wielerflits">{{cite web|url=https://www.wielerflits.nl/nieuws/voorbeschouwing-primus-classic-2021/|title=Voorbeschouwing: Primus Classic 2021 {{!}} WielerFlits|language=Dutch|trans-title=Preview: Primus Classic 2021 {{!}} WielerFlits|publisher=Wielerflits|date=18 September 2021|access-date=18 September 2021}}</ref>
The race's hilly route covered {{convert|197.7|km}} from Brakel in East Flanders to Haacht in Flemish Brabant.{{sfn|''Technical Guide''|2021|pp=29-39}} Almost immediately from the start, riders took on the ''Tenbosse'', the first of many short but steep hills. The majority of the hills came between {{convert|100|km}} and {{convert|170|km}} into the race, with some of them cobbled. The last hill, the ''Hulstbergstraat'', was crested with just under {{convert|20|km}} to go, and from there, the conclusion of the race was net downhill to the finish line near Boortmeerbeek/Wespelaar in Haacht, just outside a Primus brewery.<ref name="wielerflits" />{{sfn|''Technical Guide''|2021|p=41}}
The first major selection of favourites happened with just over {{convert|40|km}}, with Mathieu van der Poel ({{UCI team code|AFC|2021}}) and defending world road race champion Julian Alaphilippe ({{UCI team code|DQT|2021}}) the first to initiate attacks. {{UCI team code|DQT|2021|nolink=yes}} were the main presence in this group, making up five of the eleven out in front. Van der Poel suffered a puncture with {{convert|23|km}}, dropping him from the group. A few kilometres later, further attacks reduced the group to just five riders; these were Tosh Van der Sande ({{UCI team code|LTS|2021}}), Simon Clarke ({{UCI team code|TQA|2021b}}), Jasper Stuyven ({{UCI team code|TFS men|2021}}), and the {{UCI team code|DQT|2021|nolink=yes}} duo of Mikkel Frølich Honoré and Florian Sénéchal. Consecutive accelerations from both {{UCI team code|DQT|2021|nolink=yes}} riders dropped Clarke, who managed to catch back up in the final kilometre. However, just as he was doing so, Honoré led the group on the finishing straight and gradually increased the pace to lead out Sénéchal. Stuyven was the first to begin sprinting, but Sénéchal came out of his slipstream and sprinted past him before holding off Van der Sande for the win. Sénéchal's victory capped off a dominant performance by {{UCI team code|DQT|2021|nolink=yes}}, who finished with five riders in the top ten placings.<ref name="result">{{cite web|url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/primus-classic-2021/elite-men/results/|title=Florian Sénéchal wins Primus Classic|publisher=CyclingNews|date=18 September 2021|access-date=18 September 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wielerflits.nl/nieuws/florian-senechal-schenkt-deceuninck-quick-step-de-zege-in-primus-classic/|title=Florian Sénéchal wint Primus Classic met twee vingers in de neus|language=Dutch|trans-title=Florian Sénéchal wins Primus Classic with two fingers in the nose|publisher=Wielerflits|date=5 September 2021|access-date=5 September 2021}}</ref>
== Teams == 11 of the 19 UCI WorldTeams, five UCI ProTeams, and four UCI Continental teams made up the twenty teams that participated in the race.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.impanis-vanpetegem.be/editie/ploegen-en-deelnemers/|title=Ploegen en deelnemers|language=Dutch|trans-title=Teams and participants|work=Grand Prix de Wallonie|publisher=Primus Classic|access-date=18 September 2021}}</ref> All but five teams entered a full squad of seven riders; these five teams were {{UCI team code|ABC|2021}}, {{UCI team code|ALM|2021}}, {{UCI team code|EFN|2021}}, {{UCI team code|LTS|2021}}, and {{UCI team code|UXT|2021}}, and they each entered six riders.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.brakel.be/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Race-Start-List-3.pdf|title=Primus Classic List of participants|publisher=Primus Classic|date=16 September 2021|access-date=18 September 2021}}</ref> There were two non-starters, one each from {{UCI team code|BWB|2021b}} and {{UCI team code|SVB|2021}}, reducing both teams to six riders. In total, 133 riders started the race, of which 111 finished; however, two riders were disqualified and thus not counted, so there were officially 109 finishers.<ref name="uitslagen">{{cite web|url=http://uitslagen.kbwb-rlvb.com/uitslagen/2021/20210257-U.pdf|title=Primus Haacht Classic UITSLAG - RESULTAT - RESULT|publisher=Royal Belgian Cycling League|date=18 September 2021|access-date=18 September 2021}}</ref>
'''UCI WorldTeams''' {{div col|colwidth=20em|style=margin-right:20%;}} * {{UCI team code|ALM|2021}} * {{UCI team code|BOH|2021}} * {{UCI team code|COF|2021}} * {{UCI team code|DQT|2021}} * {{UCI team code|EFN|2021}} * {{UCI team code|IWG|2021}} * {{UCI team code|ISN|2021}} * {{UCI team code|LTS|2021}} * {{UCI team code|DSM men|2021}} * {{UCI team code|TQA|2021b}} * {{UCI team code|TFS men|2021}} {{div col end}}
'''UCI ProTeams''' {{div col|colwidth=20em|style=margin-right:20%;}} * {{UCI team code|AFC|2021}} * {{UCI team code|ARK men|2021}} * {{UCI team code|BWB|2021b}} * {{UCI team code|SVB|2021}} * {{UCI team code|UXT|2021}} {{div col end}}
'''UCI Continental Teams''' {{div col|colwidth=20em|style=margin-right:20%;}} * {{UCI team code|ABC|2021}} * {{UCI team code|BCY|2021}} * {{UCI team code|EVO|2021}} * {{UCI team code|TIS|2021}} {{div col end}}
== Result == {{cyclingresult start|title=Result<ref name="result" /><ref name="uitslagen" />}} {{cyclingresult|1|Florian Sénéchal|FRA|{{UCI team code|DQT|2021}}|4h 34' 05"}} {{cyclingresult|2|Tosh Van der Sande|BEL|{{UCI team code|LTS|2021}}|+ 0"}} {{cyclingresult|3|Jasper Stuyven|BEL|{{UCI team code|TFS men|2021}}|+ 0"}} {{cyclingresult|4|Mikkel Frølich Honoré|DEN|{{UCI team code|DQT|2021}}|+ 0"}} {{cyclingresult|5|Simon Clarke|AUS|{{UCI team code|TQA|2021b}}|+ 4"}} {{cyclingresult|6|Yves Lampaert|BEL|{{UCI team code|DQT|2021}}|+ 4"}} {{cyclingresult|7|Zdeněk Štybar|CZE|{{UCI team code|DQT|2021}}|+ 1' 00"}} {{cyclingresult|8|Mathieu van der Poel|NED|{{UCI team code|AFC|2021}}|+ 1' 00"}} {{cyclingresult|9|Giacomo Nizzolo|ITA|{{UCI team code|TQA|2021b}}|+ 1' 00"}} {{cyclingresult|10|Davide Ballerini|ITA|{{UCI team code|DQT|2021}}|+ 1' 00"}} {{cyclingresult end}}
== References == {{reflist|30em}}
=== Sources === {{Refbegin}} * {{cite book|url=https://www.impanis-vanpetegem.be/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Primus-Classic-Technische-Gids-A4-LR.pdf|title=Primus Classic Technische Gids|language=Dutch|trans-title=Primus Classic Technical Guide|publisher=Primus Classic|year=2021|ref={{harvid|''Technical Guide''|2021}}}} {{Refend}}
== External links == * {{official website|https://www.impanis-vanpetegem.be/}}
{{2021 UCI ProSeries}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Primus Classic, 2021}} Primus Classic Primus Classic Primus Classic Primus Classic