| 2021 Primus Classic | |
| Series: | 2021 UCI Europe Tour 2021 UCI ProSeries |
| Date: | 18 September 2021 |
| Stages: | 1 |
| Distance: | 197.7[1] |
| Unit: | km |
| Time: | 4h 34' 05" |
| First: | Florian Sénéchal |
| First Nat: | FRA |
| Second: | Tosh Van der Sande |
| Second Nat: | BEL |
| Third: | Jasper Stuyven |
| Third Nat: | BEL |
| 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.[2] 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.[3]
The race's hilly route covered from Brakel in East Flanders to Haacht in Flemish Brabant. 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 and into the race, with some of them cobbled. The last hill, the Hulstbergstraat, was crested with just under 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.
The first major selection of favourites happened with just over, with Mathieu van der Poel and defending world road race champion Julian Alaphilippe the first to initiate attacks. were the main presence in this group, making up five of the eleven out in front. Van der Poel suffered a puncture with, dropping him from the group. A few kilometres later, further attacks reduced the group to just five riders; these were Tosh Van der Sande, Simon Clarke, Jasper Stuyven, and the duo of Mikkel Frølich Honoré and Florian Sénéchal. Consecutive accelerations from both 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, who finished with five riders in the top ten placings.[4] [5]
11 of the 19 UCI WorldTeams, five UCI ProTeams, and four UCI Continental teams made up the twenty teams that participated in the race.[6] All but five teams entered a full squad of seven riders; these five teams were,,,, and, and they each entered six riders.[7] There were two non-starters, one each from and, 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.[8]
UCI WorldTeams
UCI ProTeams
UCI Continental Teams