The third stage of this year’s Eneco Tour is the longest. 214 kilometers from Heers to Bergen up Zoom awaits the riders.
After yesterday’s stage, the bookmakers hold Napolitano Lo Cicero Vantomme
as favourites for the stage win. Will we see a copy off yesterday?
It’s another sunny day in Benelux, however, today there’s finally some serious wind to speak about. It will be interesting to see if it will affect the riders.
The first intermediate sprint comes early, and the peloton is all together when the points and seconds is going to be given.
Cavendish
pulls of some clever tactic, as he’s surprisingly the only sprinter aiming for some cheap bonus seconds here! He grabs six seconds, which could prove valuable in the fight for an overall podium, even though he has struggled on the first two stages.
AirBaltic-Endura actually secures the treble, as Oliphant Docker
follows next. Serebriakov
was the only other sprinter deciding to have a go at it, but he went far too late, and must settle for fourth.
Shortly after the intermediate sprint we have the breakaway of the day. Machado De Baat Declerq
are the brave attackers. They’ve ridden 40 kilometers, their gap is 2’20.
Prio-Porto and Avelino
has been somewhat invisible so far this Eneco Tour. Though, it looks like the Portuguese team finally has some confidence in their sprinter, as Vinhas
contributes to the chase in the peloton. Though, they’re taking it easy, as the gap continues to widen, 4’30 160 kilometers from the line.
115 kilometers left and the the three attackers co-operates well. The gap is 7’20, which looks to be the most they’ll get today, as the peloton has kept that gap for a while.
Machado
is superior in the sprint for bonus seconds 76 kilometers from the line. Declerq De Baat
didn’t really stand a chance against the Venezuelan sprinter.
They’ve got a strong tailwind approaching the final 70 kilometers, but it looks like the peloton has taken that into their calculations, as the three riders up front only have a lead of four minutes.
50 kilometers to go, and Rothaus-Aegon has taken responsibility for the chase, defending Vantomme’s
jersey.
You can also see Lo Cicero Roelandts Napolitano
well placed near the front.
And it’s certainly an early catch today! Machado
is the last to be caught, 22 kilometers from the line and five kilometers before the final intermediate sprint.
Cavendish
is well placed for that sprint, in second position in the peloton. But how much energy will it cost to sprint for this one, if you’re going to challenge for the stage win 17 kilometers later?
Cavendish
gets a perfect lead out from Docker
and gets another six bonus seconds rather easy.
Serebriakov Kankovský
also went for the sprint, and is rewarded with second and third. Is this brilliancy, especially from the flying Brit?
10 kilometers left of racing in the streets of Bergen op Zoom, and Prio-Porto is doing what the can to defend Avelino’s
great position close to the front. They’ve got five riders at the head of the bunch, with Avelino just behind.
It seems like Prio-Porto is the only team that gets their train going! At the front you see Caldeira Santos Avelino Carvalho
with Vaitkus
on their left, side-by-side to Avelino.
Just behind the dominant Portuguese train is (from left to right) Ferreira Napolitano Vantomme Kupfernagel
But look at this! AirBaltic-Endura have found their formation, and they’re going bloody fast as there are only four kilometers left. Vaitkus Docker Cavendish
is on the left, while you find Caldeira Santos Avelino Napolitano Vantomme Farrar
on the right, with Lo Cicero
struggling to find a wheel in his green jersey.
A late launch is the trademark of this tour, as Docker
launches his lead out exactly two kilometers from the finish line (don’t get fooled by the one kilometer banner!)
In his slipstream follows Cavendish Vantomme
Well played by the race leader to be able to get on Cavendish’s train, as that was clearly the fastest.
Santos
leads out Avelino Napolitano
But Docker doesn’t have it! He immediately slows down, clearly too exhausted after Vaitkus’ insane pull. It forces Cavendish
to launch 1500 meters from the line.
Avelino Napolitano Vantomme Lo Cicero Farrar
sits tight just behind, watching how the sprint unfolds.
That was an amazing lead out by Santos! Avelino
storms past Cavendish 800 meters from the line. And there’s a good gap behind! Vaitkus
follows closest on the right at the picture, but he’s starting to fade after his big, big pull.
Serebriakov Lo Cicero Napolitano
are giving it everything to catch up with the flying Portuguese. But that seems like a hard task with only 400 meters left!
And Avelino
delivers a superb win! He was unbeatable in that sprint, winning with several bike lengths after a superb lead out by his team mates.
Lo Cicero
edges Napolitano
for second place with Cavendish
hanging on for fourth after a 1500 meters long sprint! Well done by the Brit, especially considering he grabbed 12 bonus seconds during the stage.
Vantomme
must settle for fifth, he simply lacked the needed firepower in the final kilometer today. He’ll also loose the leader’s jersey to Lo Cicero
who has been incredibly consistent so far.
Farrar
on the right storms home for sixth, while Haussler Roelandts Kreder
round off the top 9.
Santos
can definitely celebrate today’s stage. His lead out proved perfect, as he had saved some extra energy compared to Docker. A big win for Avelino and his team!
