Kiwi Chris Macic follows in Tom Boonen's footsteps

Big crowds cheer on the Kiwi winner

Oct 7th, 11. Tom Boonen has won it, Stijn Devolder has won it, this year it was 22 year old Kiwi Chris Macic who won the East Flanders pro-race in Belgium.

Macic, in his 5th year as a Kiwi international, won the 152km 62e KAJ KWB PRIJS ZELE race today after bridging up to and passing a solo breakaway rider in the last 500m.

It was his biggest win to date.

The 10x15.2km lap race began with 94 starters, but the fast pace saw only 39 finish.

After an early two rider break was reeled in, and the Kiwi took a Sprint Prime win, on the 7th lap the "hammer went down".

"33 riders went clear, then me and five others managed to bridge up to that group with just under three laps to go," Macic told RoadCycling.co.nz.

"So there were 39 riders and one rider out front. He had a lead of 9sec with 3km to go and it looked like the bunch was setting up for the 2nd place sprint - so I saw an opportunity.

"I went off in pursuit after him and nobody managed to stay with me when I attacked 2km from the finish line. I then waited and I caught him 500m out and flew straight past him to take my biggest win."

After finishing off his season in fine form, Macic is heading back to New Zealand on October 15th - 16 months since he was last home. He chose to stay in Europe for the off-season last year instead of coming home for the NZ summer.

Macic is riding the PowerNet Tour of Southland with the Share the Road team.