Dutchman Bobbie Traksel (P3 Transfer) won the Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen by taking the final stage around Ichtegem.

Traksel went into day fourth in General Classification, nine seconds behind Yauheni Hutarovich, but near the end of the stage it became clear that it would be Belgian Niko Eeckhout who would be his main competitor.

Those two were joined by Russian Serguei Ivanov in a group of three that were fighting for the stage with Traksel and Eeckhout knowing that overall victory was on the line.

However, it was Traksel who won the sprint at the end of the 186 km trek to take the victory.

STAGE TWO

Yauheni Hutarovich of Française des Jeux swapped position with Aurelien Clerc of Bouygues Telecom in the second day of Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen.

Clerc edged Hutarovich in a sprint in the opening day, but this time the Belerussian won the day and he now takes the yellow jersey although they are level in General Classification.

A group of four riders - Michael Barry (High Road), Geert Omloop (Mitsubishi-Jartazi), Kevin Seeldrayers (Quick Step) and Ricardo Van Der Velde (Rabobank Continental) had tried a breakaway on the 1980km trek from Torhout to Handzame but they were reeled in before the end.

Tomorrow's final stage is a 186 km journey around Ichtegem.

STAGE ONE

Aurelien Clerc of Bouygues Telecom won the opening stage of the three-day Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen in a mass sprint finish.

The 28-year-old beat Yauheni Hutarovich (Française des Jeux) and Bobbie Traksel to the line at the end of the 176km stage from Kortrijk to Bellegem.

The race, which features eight Pro Tour teams, saw Greg Henderson and Arnoud Van Groen build up a seven minute advantage with an early escape but they were reeled in to set up a sprint finish.

Britain's Mark Cavendish would have fancied his chances but he had to settle for fourth behind the Swiss.

Eurosport