Jasper De Buyst and Tosh Van der Sande are the new leaders of the 78th Lotto Six Days of Flanders-Ghent at the halfway point. The Belgian duo amassed 182 points.
The first points race went to Keisse/Viviani. The second was won by Rickaert/Steels. In an exciting team elimination Keisse/Viviani struck again, while Moreno De Pauw dominated the one-lap time-trial after a perfect launch by Lindsay De Vylder.
Five teams were on the lead lap heading into the first 45-minute madison. Keisse/Viviani lead the pack with 154 points, followed by De Ketele/Ghys (147) and De Buyst/Van der Sande (127). The German duo Kluge/Reinhardt coloured the race along with De Buyst/Van der Sande and won the event. Together with the Belgians they put one or more laps on the rest of the field. That allowed Jasper De Buyst and Tosh Van der Sande to take the overall lead.
Three teams remain on the lead lap after the third night. The German madison world champions Roger Kluge and Theo Reinhardt are second with 134 points, 28 behind the Belgian leaders. Dutch duo Yoeri Havik and Wim Stroetinga are third (111 points). Iljo Keisse and Elia Viviani (179 points) are fourth, one lap down. Kenny De Ketele and Robbe Ghys, who started the day in the lead, dropped down to fifth with 175 points.
