Eneco Tour: Stage 2 win for Lopez

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Sky’s David Lopez resisted the chase from behind to hold on to win the Ardennes stage of the Eneco Tour on Saturday, Tom Dumouline now leads overall

Photo Album from Thomas van Bracht (PelotonPhotos.com)

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Lopez celebrates a great victory. © Thomas van Bracht/PelotonPhotos.com

The 150km stage began in Riemst and ended on the famous climb of La Redoute. The stage included three ascents of La Redoute which was to explode the peloton into small groups later in the race. With an early intermediate sprint offering vital bonus seconds, teams fighting for the general classification repeatedly closed down attacks and it wasn’t until after 45km that they finally allowed a breakaway to go clear.

Eleven riders, including Lopez, escaped and quickly built up a lead that reached its peak at over seven minutes, but that that began to fall after the crash. Stage favourite Philippe Gilbert and BMC team-mate Taylor Phinney, fourth on the GC, were all involved. Omega Pharma – Quick-Step looked to capitalise by upping the pace on the front of what was left of the peloton, eroding the breakaway’s lead to under five minutes in the process.

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An early break. © Thomas van Bracht/PelotonPhotos.com

It was a hectic stage with the final climbs causing groups to split all over the narrow roads as well as a large crash taking down some top contenders.  Jesse Sergent was part of the chasing action, hanging tough until the climbs really started to bite, then slipping back into a chase group.

Former British Road Race Champion Ian Stannard (Team Sky), Kevin de Weert (Omega Pharma – Quick-Step) and Jesse Sergent (RadioShack-Leopard) attacked off the front of the pack. They were soon reeled back in, but the main bunch then split into pieces on the first ascent of La Redoute and two main groups formed, with Dumoulin spearheading the first and the likes of Gilbert and Sylvain Chavanel (Omega Pharma – Quick-Step) the second.

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Bradley Wiggins got stuck in during the race. © Thomas van Bracht/PelotonPhotos.com

Up ahead, the breakaway splintered on the second ascent of La Redoute and was further whittled down to just three when Madrazo attacked 20km out. The surviving trio had just over a minute’s gap heading into the final 10km and after Dumoulin single-handedly reduced that to around 20 seconds with 1.5km and just the final climb of La Redoute remaining, a nail-biting but thrilling finish ensued.

David Lopez (Sky) went solo in the final few hundred meters when he saw the Stybar group was closing in on the breakaway. He stayed away for the victory, winning by two seconds. Maciej Paterski (Cannondale ProCycling Team) was 3rd.

Second placed Zdenek Stybar (Omega Pharma Quickstep) explained more about the race “It was a hard day since the beginning,” Stybar said. “I tried to do the early bonification for the seconds, and I felt at that time that I didn’t really recover fully from the time trial. But the feeling got better as the race went on. But still, the race was really hard. On the first passage of La Redoute there was already some time between the riders in front and the group. We had Stijn in front and I was behind, so the fact that Stijn was in front, he protected us.”

“In the final Dumoulin did a great job in the small group to catch the three guys in front. He was really strong today and he deserves his leadership in the GC. I didn’t collaborate because I was waiting for Chavanel, to see if he was able to come back. But it wasn’t the case. But OK, I think I did a good race. I am happy with it even if the sprint for me could have maybe started 50 or 60 meters before. If I did that, I could have maybe done better, but it is easy to talk about these things after the stage is over. The truth is, everybody was waiting until the last moment because La Redoute is really steep. We all wanted to avoid the problem of paying for the effort on the climbs.”

A New Race Leader

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© Thomas van Bracht/PelotonPhotos.com 

Young Argos-Shimano rider Tom Dumoulin (above) took over the race lead at the Eneco Tour after finishing fourth on today’s sixth stage to La Redoute. Tom started the day with just an eight second deficit to make up on the overall race leader and did that and much more. Riding like a man possessed on the front of his group for the final 15km to sweep up the remaining breakaway riders, catching them on the finish line where he still had enough energy to sprint for fourth place.

“I had to work hard for it today,” said Dumoulin after the finish. “I crashed before La Redoute but I stayed calm and was able to come back after a long chase. I actually felt really good, even after all the work done, so I decided to go with the Astana guys when they went. When we joined the group with Stybar (Omega Pharma – Quickstep) I came into a situation that I had to do all the work myself because there were not many riders that wanted to race.”

“I had to save some energy for the final sprint as to not lose too much time to Stybar. Today was a big chance to take the race lead and I surprised myself. You never know what will happen tomorrow but I am really happy to have the jersey now and we will do everything we can to keep it tomorrow.”

Final stage 7 on Sunday is the longest of the week at 208km from Tienen to Geraardsbergen. The climbs on the ‘Mini Flanders’ stage will once again challenge the riders as the motivated GC contenders look to move up on the final day of racing.

Big Win for Lopez

“It was really nice for me” he admitted on his team’s website. “This year has been a good one and I feel like I’ve done some good work for the team along the way. I’ve been very happy with the races I’ve done and now, after the Tour, I could have a think about trying to win a race for myself.”

“It was incredible for me. It is a great way to mark a memorable year. I still have more races to come, but with this result I’m very happy, especially in my first year with this team. I think the team has been happy with my work and now with this I’m very happy too.”

“I think experience helped me not just to the win, but throughout the whole race. I know this race and I know that the stages are often very nervous with some crashes. I tried to save a lot of energy during the stages and calculate my time loss each day.”

“I rode at the back of the race with Bradley [Wiggins] and Bernie [Eisel] and we took no risks. That meant that on Saturday I was fresher than maybe some of the other riders. I gave everything at the start to get into the break. I knew it was the only day for me as Sunday’s stage is similar to the Tour of Flanders with the cobbled climbs.”

“I tried everything to get up the road and when I got there I also tried to save as much energy as I could. Heading into the final we didn’t have much of a gap but I was very happy with the way I rode the final kilometres.”

“I saw the riders very close behind heading into the final kilometre,” he explained. “I looked back and I thought, ‘Wow, it is impossible, the peloton is here’. I tried to get away at the start of the climb, but the other two riders took my wheel so I stopped. There was a big screen at the final corner with about 400 metres to the finish. I looked up and saw the group behind was quite small and that they also felt they could win the stage. They began to look at each other and that is when I felt I had a chance to win.”

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Ian Stannard got involved in the race at the sharp end. © Thomas van Bracht/PelotonPhotos.com

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Philippe Gilbert crashed and has now abandoned the race. © Thomas van Bracht/PelotonPhotos.com

Phinney Crashes Out too
Taylor Phinney had been sitting fourth overall, eight seconds off the lead – said he landed hard on his left knee in the crash that took down several teammates and at least a dozen riders. The pile-up happened about 60 kilometers from the end of the 150-km race.

“The team was all lined up on the right, trying to move up and the crash happened in front of all of us,” Phinney said. “It started with Alessandro Petacchi and Gabriel Rasch and sort of dominoed out into the middle of the road.” Phinney, who was also involved in a crash Wednesday on Stage 3, said he initially tried to continue. “I couldn’t bend my leg. It was too painful,” he said.

RESULTS
1 LOPEZ GARCIA David Sky Procycling 03:51:13
2 STYBAR Zdenek Omega Pharma – Quick-Step 00:02
3 PATERSKI Maciej Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
4 DUMOULIN Tom Team Argos – Shimano 00:03
5 BAKELANTS Jan RadioShack – Leopard @ st
6 MADRAZO RUIZ Angel Movistar Team @ st
7 WESTRA Lieuwe Vacansoleil – DCM @ st
8 IMPEY Daryl Orica GreenEDGE @ st
9 NUYENS Nick Garmin – Sharp 00:12
10 JEANNESSON Arnold Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr @ st
11 GRIVKO Andriy Astana Pro Team @ st
12 KELDERMAN Wilco Belkin Pro Cycling Team 00:51
13 IGLINSKIY Maxim Astana Pro Team 00:53
14 JUNGELS Bob RadioShack – Leopard 00:56
15 WEENING Pieter Orica GreenEDGE 00:57
16 MONFORT Maxime RadioShack – Leopard @ st
17 CHAVANEL Sylvain Omega Pharma – Quick-Step @ st
18 ROJAS GIL Jose Joaquin Movistar Team 01:02
19 SICARD Romain Euskaltel – Euskadi 01:04
20 WELLENS Tim Lotto Belisol Team 01:07
21 KUZNETSOV Viacheslav Katusha Team 01:17
22 GILBERT Philippe BMC Racing Team 01:37
23 DE WEERT Kevin Omega Pharma – Quick-Step @ st
24 VANDENBERGH Stijn Omega Pharma – Quick-Step 01:40
25 BRESCHEL Matti Team Saxo-Tinkoff 01:48
26 LEUKEMANS Bjorn Vacansoleil – DCM 01:50
27 HOOGERLAND Johnny Vacansoleil – DCM 01:52
28 KEUKELEIRE Jens Orica GreenEDGE @ st
29 DOCKX Gert Lotto Belisol Team @ st
30 OFFREDO Yoann Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr @ st
31 WACKERMANN Luca Lampre – Merida @ st
32 TERPSTRA Niki Omega Pharma – Quick-Step 01:59
33 HOULE Hugo AG2R La Mondiale @ st
34 VAN GOOLEN Jurgen Accent.jobs – Wanty @ st
35 GUSEV Vladimir Katusha Team @ st
36 DECLERCQ Tim Topsport Vlaanderen – Baloise @ st
37 BRAVO OIARBIDE Garikoitz Euskaltel – Euskadi @ st
38 BOOM Lars Belkin Pro Cycling Team 02:19
39 VAN POPPEL Boy Vacansoleil – DCM 02:29
40 STANNARD Ian Sky Procycling 03:43
41 WYSS Danilo BMC Racing Team 03:50
42 KROON Karsten Team Saxo-Tinkoff 03:52
43 HABEAUX Gregory Accent.jobs – Wanty 04:07
44 DOMONT Axel AG2R La Mondiale 07:43
45 MOINARD Amaël BMC Racing Team 08:24
46 LIGTHART Pim Vacansoleil – DCM 08:33
47 TANKINK Bram Belkin Pro Cycling Team 11:49
48 SERGENT Jesse RadioShack – Leopard @ st
49 JACOBS Pieter Topsport Vlaanderen – Baloise 15:09
50 DE VREESE Laurens Topsport Vlaanderen – Baloise @ st
51 PORSEV Alexander Katusha Team @ st
52 VAN POPPEL Danny Vacansoleil – DCM @ st
53 PEREZ MORENO Ruben Euskaltel – Euskadi @ st
54 LOBATO DEL VALLE Juan Jose Euskaltel – Euskadi @ st
55 VAN HOECKE Gijs Topsport Vlaanderen – Baloise @ st
56 DEBUSSCHERE Jens Lotto Belisol Team @ st
57 VENTOSO ALBERDI Francisco José Movistar Team @ st
58 RAST Gregory RadioShack – Leopard @ st
59 WIGGINS Bradley Sky Procycling @ st
60 HUFFMAN Evan Astana Pro Team @ st
61 LANGEVELD Sebastian Orica GreenEDGE @ st
62 DALL’ANTONIA Tiziano Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
63 QUINZIATO Manuel BMC Racing Team @ st
64 GREIPEL Andre Lotto Belisol Team @ st
65 BENNATI Daniele Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
66 PARISIEN Francois Team Argos – Shimano @ st
67 VANDBORG Brian Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
68 VAN DIJK Stefan Accent.jobs – Wanty 15:38
69 DE KORT Koen Team Argos – Shimano @ st
70 LADAGNOUS Matthieu Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr @ st
71 RASMUSSEN Alex Garmin – Sharp @ st
72 BOUCHER David Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr @ st
73 VANLANDSCHOOT James Accent.jobs – Wanty @ st
74 ROLLIN Dominique Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr @ st
75 FARRAR Tyler Garmin – Sharp 15:47
76 HAYMAN Mathew Sky Procycling 15:57
77 POZZATO Filippo Lampre – Merida 16:47
78 VIVIANI Elia Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
79 PIETROPOLLI Daniele Lampre – Merida @ st
80 SELVAGGI Mirko Vacansoleil – DCM @ st
81 ANACONA GOMEZ Winner Lampre – Merida @ st
82 MARANGONI Alan Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
83 NIZZOLO Giacomo RadioShack – Leopard @ st
84 HONDO Danilo RadioShack – Leopard @ st
85 APPOLLONIO Davide AG2R La Mondiale @ st
86 ROELANDTS Jurgen Lotto Belisol Team @ st
87 WILLEMS Frederik Lotto Belisol Team @ st
88 FERNANDEZ DE LARREA Koldo Garmin – Sharp @ st
89 VEUCHELEN Frederik Vacansoleil – DCM @ st
90 SANZ UNZUE Enrique Movistar Team @ st
91 DODI Luca Lampre – Merida @ st
92 CANTWELL Jonathan Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
93 TSATEVITCH Alexey Katusha Team @ st
94 BODNAR Maciej Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
95 ABERASTURI Jon Euskaltel – Euskadi @ st
96 DRUCKER Jean-Pierre Accent.jobs – Wanty @ st
97 BAZAYEV Assan Astana Pro Team @ st
98 SUTTON Chris Sky Procycling @ st
99 MIYAZAWA Takashi Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
100 GRUZDEV Dmitriy Astana Pro Team @ st
101 LODEWYCK Klaas BMC Racing Team @ st
102 VAN EMDEN Jos Belkin Pro Cycling Team @ st
103 KUMP Marko Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
104 VANSPEYBROUCK Pieter Topsport Vlaanderen – Baloise @ st
105 WALLAYS Jelle Topsport Vlaanderen – Baloise @ st
106 BOZIC Borut Astana Pro Team @ st
107 STEEGMANS Gert Omega Pharma – Quick-Step @ st
108 KREDER Raymond Garmin – Sharp @ st
109 DURBRIDGE Luke Orica GreenEDGE 19:20
110 TUFT Svein Orica GreenEDGE @ st
111 KRUOPIS Aidis Orica GreenEDGE @ st
112 BAGDONAS Gediminas AG2R La Mondiale @ st
113 CURVERS Roy Team Argos – Shimano @ st
114 VERRAES Benjamin Accent.jobs – Wanty @ st
115 KUSCHYNSKI Aleksandr Katusha Team @ st
116 VEELERS Tom Team Argos – Shimano @ st
117 SCHEIRLINCKX Staf Accent.jobs – Wanty @ st
118 DEGENKOLB John Team Argos – Shimano @ st
119 TIMMER Albert Team Argos – Shimano @ st
120 HUNTER Robert Garmin – Sharp @ st
121 VANGENECHTEN Jonas Lotto Belisol Team @ st
122 MOURIS Jens Orica GreenEDGE @ st
123 EISEL Bernhard Sky Procycling @ st
124 KERN Julian AG2R La Mondiale @ st
125 MINGUEZ Miguel Euskaltel – Euskadi @ st
126 BOIVIN Guillaume Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
127 VAN KEIRSBULCK Guillaume Omega Pharma – Quick-Step @ st
128 BOARO Manuele Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
129 AAEN JORGENSEN Jonas Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
130 BONO Matteo Lampre – Merida @ st
131 KOCJAN Jure Euskaltel – Euskadi @ st
132 TAMOURIDIS Ioannis Euskaltel – Euskadi @ st
133 GUARNIERI Jacopo Astana Pro Team @ st
134 OSS Daniel BMC Racing Team @ st
135 HUTAROVICH Yauheni AG2R La Mondiale @ st
136 ISAYCHEV Vladimir Katusha Team @ st
137 DEMARE Arnaud Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr @ st
138 BELLETTI Manuel AG2R La Mondiale @ st
139 DELAGE Mickaël Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr @ st
140 VAN STAEYEN Michael Topsport Vlaanderen – Baloise @ st
141 RICHEZE Ariel Maximiliano Lampre – Merida @ st
142 NAPOLITANO Danilo Accent.jobs – Wanty @ st
143 BROWN Graeme Belkin Pro Cycling Team @ st
144 TJALLINGII Maarten Belkin Pro Cycling Team @ st
145 VANDOUSSELAERE Sven Topsport Vlaanderen – Baloise @ st

Overall
1 DUMOULIN Tom Team Argos – Shimano 20:14:03
2 STYBAR Zdenek Omega Pharma – Quick-Step 00:09
3 GRIVKO Andriy Astana Pro Team 00:24
4 BAKELANTS Jan RadioShack – Leopard 00:29
5 IMPEY Daryl Orica GreenEDGE @ st
6 WESTRA Lieuwe Vacansoleil – DCM 00:37
7 CHAVANEL Sylvain Omega Pharma – Quick-Step 00:50
8 KELDERMAN Wilco Belkin Pro Cycling Team 01:07
9 WEENING Pieter Orica GreenEDGE 01:16
10 IGLINSKIY Maxim Astana Pro Team 01:33
11 MONFORT Maxime RadioShack – Leopard 01:40
12 GILBERT Philippe BMC Racing Team 01:44
13 JUNGELS Bob RadioShack – Leopard 01:47
14 SICARD Romain Euskaltel – Euskadi 01:59
15 WELLENS Tim Lotto Belisol Team 02:02
16 BOOM Lars Belkin Pro Cycling Team 02:06
17 KUZNETSOV Viacheslav Katusha Team 02:11
18 GUSEV Vladimir Katusha Team 02:13
19 DE WEERT Kevin Omega Pharma – Quick-Step 02:18
20 TERPSTRA Niki Omega Pharma – Quick-Step 02:23

 

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