An individual time trial of jsut 4.9km, even shorter than the prologue. I will probably lose my lead to Roelandts who is a very good tester and only 4 seconds behind me. I just hope I can limit my losses. Klaas wants desparately to win the stage.
In the end it was a good day for the team but I was the only one to finish outside the top 30, dropping to 2nd in GC. Klaas took another 2nd place to add to his earlier one and to the teams big accumulation of podium finishes. Roelandts finished 6th and took yellow. Keizer won. Michael Polazzi added another top 10 in finishing 7th.
Rank Name Team Time
1 Martijn Keizer RABOBANK CONTINENTAL 6'45
2 Klaas Sys PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS + 2
3 Thomas Berkhout RABOBANK CONTINENTAL + 6
4 Daniel Becke THÜRINGER ENERGIE TEAM s.t.
5 Dieter Cappelle UNIBET.COM CONTINENTAL + 7
6 Jurgen Roelandts DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN s.t.
7 Michaël Polazzi PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS + 8
8 Kristof Goddaert DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN + 9
9 Bart Boom TEAM LÖWIK MEUBELEN + 10
10 Maurizio Biondo KIO-ENE - TONAZZO - DMT s.t.
11 Jure Zrimsek ADRIA MOBIL + 11
12 Lars Boom RABOBANK CONTINENTAL s.t.
13 Peter Van Agtmaal FONDAS P3TRANSFER TEAM s.t.
14 Johnny Hoogerland VAN VLIET - EBH ADVOCATEN s.t.
15 Jan Almblad TEAM GLS + 14
16 Laurent Mars STOREZ LEDECQ MATERIAUX + 15
17 Björn Gollhardt THÜRINGER ENERGIE TEAM s.t.
18 Pieter Riis Andersen TEAM GLS s.t.
19 Savié Van Horik FONDAS P3TRANSFER TEAM + 16
20 Sergej Fuchs TEAM 3C-GRUPPE LAMONTA + 17
21 Marcel Beima TIME - VAN HEMERT + 19
22 Georgios Tentsos PSK WHIRLPOOL HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ s.t.
23 Boy Van Poppel RABOBANK CONTINENTAL + 20
24 Ben Van der Kooi FONDAS P3TRANSFER TEAM s.t.
25 Fabio Polazzi PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS + 21
26 Erik Hoffmann TEAM 3C-GRUPPE LAMONTA s.t.
27 Arne Hassink UBBINK - SYNTEC CYCLING TEAM s.t.
28 Laurent Fontaine PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS s.t.
29 Jérémy Burton PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS + 22
30 Jérôme Baugnies DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN s.t.
31 Sascha Damrow THÜRINGER ENERGIE TEAM + 23 32 Alejandro Serna PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS s.t.
33 Marko Kump ADRIA MOBIL s.t.
34 Stefan Huizinga VAN VLIET - EBH ADVOCATEN + 25
35 Jure Zagar ADRIA MOBIL s.t.
36 Florian Frohn THÜRINGER ENERGIE TEAM + 27
37 Paul Van Schalen UBBINK - SYNTEC CYCLING TEAM s.t.
38 Peter Olde Dubbelink TEAM LÖWIK MEUBELEN s.t.
39 Antonin Linda PSK WHIRLPOOL HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ + 28
40 Thomas Kristiansen TEAM GLS + 30
41 Kristoffer Nielsen TEAM GLS + 31
42 Jans Koerts TIME - VAN HEMERT + 33
43 Roel Paulissen DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN + 34
44 Stanislav Kozúbek PSK WHIRLPOOL HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ s.t.
45 Lucas Persson UNIBET.COM CONTINENTAL s.t.
46 Simon Spilak ADRIA MOBIL + 35
47 Thomas Degand STOREZ LEDECQ MATERIAUX + 36
48 Wataru Otsuka STOREZ LEDECQ MATERIAUX s.t.
49 Thomas Riber-Sellebjerg TEAM GLS + 37
50 Massimo Mazzanti KIO-ENE - TONAZZO - DMT s.t.
51 Maarten Neyens DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN + 38
52 Michael Vanderaerden DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN s.t.
53 Norbert Poels FONDAS P3TRANSFER TEAM + 39
54 Sierk Jan De Haan TIME - VAN HEMERT s.t.
55 Cornelius Van Ooijen TEAM LÖWIK MEUBELEN s.t.
56 Blaz Jarc ADRIA MOBIL + 40
57 Eelke Van der Wal FONDAS P3TRANSFER TEAM s.t.
58 Vojtech Dlouhý PSK WHIRLPOOL HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ s.t.
59 Oliver Giesecke THÜRINGER ENERGIE TEAM + 41
60 Thijs Van Amerongen VAN VLIET - EBH ADVOCATEN + 42
61 Marcel Barth THÜRINGER ENERGIE TEAM s.t.
62 Alain Van Katwijk VAN VLIET - EBH ADVOCATEN s.t.
63 Kenny Van der Schueren UNIBET.COM CONTINENTAL s.t.
64 Marco Osella KIO-ENE - TONAZZO - DMT s.t.
65 Ger Soepenberg FONDAS P3TRANSFER TEAM s.t.
66 Niels Pieters TEAM LÖWIK MEUBELEN s.t.
67 Boris Shpilevski KIO-ENE - TONAZZO - DMT s.t.
68 Joost Van Leijen VAN VLIET - EBH ADVOCATEN s.t.
69 Jonathan Bertrand UNIBET.COM CONTINENTAL + 45
70 Jonas Van Genechten STOREZ LEDECQ MATERIAUX + 46
71 Yvo Kusters TIME - VAN HEMERT + 50
72 Simone Cadamuro KIO-ENE - TONAZZO - DMT s.t.
73 Jonathan Godfroid STOREZ LEDECQ MATERIAUX s.t.
74 Roy Curvers TIME - VAN HEMERT s.t.
75 Marvin Van der Pluijm UBBINK - SYNTEC CYCLING TEAM s.t.
76 Ricardo Van der Velde RABOBANK CONTINENTAL s.t.
77 Petr Bencik PSK WHIRLPOOL HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ s.t.
78 Thomas Oredsson TEAM GLS s.t.
79 Dennis Smit UBBINK - SYNTEC CYCLING TEAM s.t.
80 Jean-Noël Wolf STOREZ LEDECQ MATERIAUX s.t.
81 Lars Jun TEAM LÖWIK MEUBELEN s.t.
82 Stijn Ennekens UNIBET.COM CONTINENTAL s.t.
83 Peter Schep UBBINK - SYNTEC CYCLING TEAM s.t.
84 Joze Senekovic ADRIA MOBIL s.t.
85 Domenik Klemme TEAM 3C-GRUPPE LAMONTA s.t.
86 Sebastian Pristl TEAM 3C-GRUPPE LAMONTA s.t.
87 Jeroen Boelen TIME - VAN HEMERT s.t.
88 Frantisek Kloucek PSK WHIRLPOOL HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ s.t.
89 Paul Voss TEAM 3C-GRUPPE LAMONTA s.t.
90 Bram Schmitz VAN VLIET - EBH ADVOCATEN s.t.
91 Matthias Friedemann TEAM 3C-GRUPPE LAMONTA s.t.
92 Devis Miorin KIO-ENE - TONAZZO - DMT s.t.
93 Mitchell Huenders TEAM LÖWIK MEUBELEN + 58
94 Folkert De Haan UBBINK - SYNTEC CYCLING TEAM s.t.
I'm only 12 seconds behind Roelandts so a win tomorrow could reinstate me into the lead:
Rank Name Team Time
1 Jurgen Roelandts DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN 19h14'14 2 Alejandro Serna PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS + 12
3 Lars Boom RABOBANK CONTINENTAL + 17
4 Pieter Riis Andersen TEAM GLS + 20
5 Arne Hassink UBBINK - SYNTEC CYCLING TEAM + 25
6 Kristoffer Nielsen TEAM GLS + 47
7 Simon Spilak ADRIA MOBIL + 53
8 Sierk Jan De Haan TIME - VAN HEMERT + 56
9 Jonas Van Genechten STOREZ LEDECQ MATERIAUX + 1'06
10 Matthias Friedemann TEAM 3C-GRUPPE LAMONTA + 1'14
11 Bram Schmitz VAN VLIET - EBH ADVOCATEN + 1'17
12 Paul Voss TEAM 3C-GRUPPE LAMONTA + 1'29
13 Lucas Persson UNIBET.COM CONTINENTAL + 2'57
14 Stanislav Kozúbek PSK WHIRLPOOL HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ + 3'04
15 Joost Van Leijen VAN VLIET - EBH ADVOCATEN + 3'05
16 Frantisek Kloucek PSK WHIRLPOOL HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ + 3'07
17 Boris Shpilevski KIO-ENE - TONAZZO - DMT + 3'14
18 Jeroen Boelen TIME - VAN HEMERT + 3'19
19 Thomas Riber-Sellebjerg TEAM GLS + 3'24
20 Michael Vanderaerden DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN + 3'25
21 Sebastian Pristl TEAM 3C-GRUPPE LAMONTA s.t.
22 Domenik Klemme TEAM 3C-GRUPPE LAMONTA + 3'33
23 Joze Senekovic ADRIA MOBIL + 3'37
24 Folkert De Haan UBBINK - SYNTEC CYCLING TEAM + 3'40
25 Maurizio Biondo KIO-ENE - TONAZZO - DMT + 3'52
26 Klaas Sys PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS + 4'03
27 Thomas Berkhout RABOBANK CONTINENTAL + 4'07
28 Daniel Becke THÜRINGER ENERGIE TEAM + 4'11
29 Bart Boom TEAM LÖWIK MEUBELEN s.t.
30 Jans Koerts TIME - VAN HEMERT + 4'12
It could also put me into the points jersey which Roelandts is also challenging Koerts for now:
Rank Name Team General
1 Jans Koerts TIME - VAN HEMERT 87
2 Jurgen Roelandts DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN 82 3 Alejandro Serna PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS 82
4 Maurizio Biondo KIO-ENE - TONAZZO - DMT 76
5 Thomas Berkhout RABOBANK CONTINENTAL 53
6 Marko Kump ADRIA MOBIL 48
7 Marvin Van der Pluijm UBBINK - SYNTEC CYCLING TEAM 44
8 Peter Van Agtmaal FONDAS P3TRANSFER TEAM 43
9 Klaas Sys PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS 40
10 Martijn Keizer RABOBANK CONTINENTAL 37
Tomorrow is probably my last (and the team's) chance for a stage win.
The final flat stage, with a few climbs. It looks like it will be my last chance for a stage win and the legs feel strong. However, if I screw up today I may get a chance in tomorrow's stage as the terrain isn't too tough and there aren't many good puncheurs here.
A break escaped and with it went Fabio Polazzi's mountains jersey, although he did get to wear it for 2 days, longer than my stint in yellow. They were hauled back for the finish and it was a chaotic one, lots of tight turns and I was misplaced. Van Katwijk took the win by going early and staying ahead while I sped through the gaps behind for second. Was that my last chance for that elusive stage win?
Rank Name Team Time
1 Alain Van Katwijk VAN VLIET - EBH ADVOCATEN 4h32'38 2 Alejandro Serna PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS s.t.
3 Marvin Van der Pluijm UBBINK - SYNTEC CYCLING TEAM s.t.
4 Maurizio Biondo KIO-ENE - TONAZZO - DMT s.t.
5 Jans Koerts TIME - VAN HEMERT s.t.
6 Thomas Berkhout RABOBANK CONTINENTAL s.t.
7 Jurgen Roelandts DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN s.t.
8 Jan Almblad TEAM GLS s.t.
9 Kristoffer Nielsen TEAM GLS s.t.
10 Petr Bencik PSK WHIRLPOOL HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ s.t.
11 Simon Spilak ADRIA MOBIL s.t.
12 Thomas Degand STOREZ LEDECQ MATERIAUX s.t.
13 Stanislav Kozúbek PSK WHIRLPOOL HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ s.t.
14 Paul Voss TEAM 3C-GRUPPE LAMONTA s.t.
15 Boy Van Poppel RABOBANK CONTINENTAL s.t.
16 Marko Kump ADRIA MOBIL s.t.
17 Peter Van Agtmaal FONDAS P3TRANSFER TEAM s.t.
18 Michael Vanderaerden DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN s.t.
19 Paul Van Schalen UBBINK - SYNTEC CYCLING TEAM s.t.
20 Pieter Riis Andersen TEAM GLS s.t.
21 Norbert Poels FONDAS P3TRANSFER TEAM s.t.
22 Jonathan Godfroid STOREZ LEDECQ MATERIAUX s.t.
23 Jeroen Boelen TIME - VAN HEMERT s.t.
24 Bart Boom TEAM LÖWIK MEUBELEN s.t.
25 Boris Shpilevski KIO-ENE - TONAZZO - DMT s.t.
26 Erik Hoffmann TEAM 3C-GRUPPE LAMONTA s.t.
27 Ger Soepenberg FONDAS P3TRANSFER TEAM s.t.
28 Roy Curvers TIME - VAN HEMERT s.t.
29 Niels Pieters TEAM LÖWIK MEUBELEN s.t.
30 Dieter Cappelle UNIBET.COM CONTINENTAL s.t.
31 Maarten Neyens DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN s.t.
32 Marcel Beima TIME - VAN HEMERT s.t.
33 Domenik Klemme TEAM 3C-GRUPPE LAMONTA s.t.
34 Lars Boom RABOBANK CONTINENTAL s.t.
35 Michaël Polazzi PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS s.t.
36 Joze Senekovic ADRIA MOBIL s.t.
37 Devis Miorin KIO-ENE - TONAZZO - DMT s.t.
38 Matthias Friedemann TEAM 3C-GRUPPE LAMONTA s.t.
39 Jonas Van Genechten STOREZ LEDECQ MATERIAUX s.t.
40 Peter Schep UBBINK - SYNTEC CYCLING TEAM s.t.
41 Ricardo Van der Velde RABOBANK CONTINENTAL s.t.
42 Johnny Hoogerland VAN VLIET - EBH ADVOCATEN s.t.
43 Georgios Tentsos PSK WHIRLPOOL HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ s.t.
44 Thomas Riber-Sellebjerg TEAM GLS s.t.
45 Bram Schmitz VAN VLIET - EBH ADVOCATEN s.t.
46 Jure Zrimsek ADRIA MOBIL s.t.
47 Kenny Van der Schueren UNIBET.COM CONTINENTAL s.t.
48 Massimo Mazzanti KIO-ENE - TONAZZO - DMT s.t.
49 Laurent Mars STOREZ LEDECQ MATERIAUX s.t.
50 Sergej Fuchs TEAM 3C-GRUPPE LAMONTA s.t.
51 Frantisek Kloucek PSK WHIRLPOOL HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ s.t.
52 Arne Hassink UBBINK - SYNTEC CYCLING TEAM s.t.
53 Thomas Kristiansen TEAM GLS s.t.
54 Joost Van Leijen VAN VLIET - EBH ADVOCATEN s.t.
55 Daniel Becke THÜRINGER ENERGIE TEAM s.t.
56 Ben Van der Kooi FONDAS P3TRANSFER TEAM s.t.
57 Lucas Persson UNIBET.COM CONTINENTAL s.t.
58 Martijn Keizer RABOBANK CONTINENTAL s.t.
59 Björn Gollhardt THÜRINGER ENERGIE TEAM s.t.
60 Thijs Van Amerongen VAN VLIET - EBH ADVOCATEN s.t.
61 Klaas Sys PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS s.t.
62 Sierk Jan De Haan TIME - VAN HEMERT s.t.
63 Dennis Smit UBBINK - SYNTEC CYCLING TEAM s.t.
64 Marco Osella KIO-ENE - TONAZZO - DMT s.t.
65 Jérôme Baugnies DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN s.t.
66 Folkert De Haan UBBINK - SYNTEC CYCLING TEAM s.t.
67 Sascha Damrow THÜRINGER ENERGIE TEAM s.t.
68 Marcel Barth THÜRINGER ENERGIE TEAM s.t.
69 Florian Frohn THÜRINGER ENERGIE TEAM s.t.
70 Eelke Van der Wal FONDAS P3TRANSFER TEAM s.t.
71 Oliver Giesecke THÜRINGER ENERGIE TEAM s.t.
72 Peter Olde Dubbelink TEAM LÖWIK MEUBELEN s.t.
73 Fabio Polazzi PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS s.t.
74 Blaz Jarc ADRIA MOBIL + 1'43
75 Laurent Fontaine PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS + 2'39
76 Simone Cadamuro KIO-ENE - TONAZZO - DMT + 4'31
77 Jean-Noël Wolf STOREZ LEDECQ MATERIAUX s.t.
78 Jure Zagar ADRIA MOBIL s.t.
79 Jérémy Burton PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS s.t.
80 Mitchell Huenders TEAM LÖWIK MEUBELEN s.t.
81 Jonathan Bertrand UNIBET.COM CONTINENTAL s.t.
82 Lars Jun TEAM LÖWIK MEUBELEN s.t.
83 Kristof Goddaert DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN s.t.
84 Thomas Oredsson TEAM GLS s.t.
85 Roel Paulissen DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN s.t.
86 Yvo Kusters TIME - VAN HEMERT s.t.
87 Sebastian Pristl TEAM 3C-GRUPPE LAMONTA s.t.
88 Stijn Ennekens UNIBET.COM CONTINENTAL s.t.
89 Cornelius Van Ooijen TEAM LÖWIK MEUBELEN + 6'39
90 Savié Van Horik FONDAS P3TRANSFER TEAM + 9'11
91 Vojtech Dlouhý PSK WHIRLPOOL HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ + 10'47
92 Stefan Huizinga VAN VLIET - EBH ADVOCATEN + 12'47
93 Antonin Linda PSK WHIRLPOOL HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ + 13'11
94 Wataru Otsuka STOREZ LEDECQ MATERIAUX + 14'31
If the stage didn't give me a step up to the podium for the win it did give me two others: the yellow jersey and the green jersey.
GC:
Rank Name Team Time 1 Alejandro Serna PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS 23h46'52
2 Jurgen Roelandts DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN s.t.
3 Lars Boom RABOBANK CONTINENTAL + 17
4 Pieter Riis Andersen TEAM GLS + 20
5 Arne Hassink UBBINK - SYNTEC CYCLING TEAM + 25
6 Kristoffer Nielsen TEAM GLS + 47
7 Simon Spilak ADRIA MOBIL + 53
8 Sierk Jan De Haan TIME - VAN HEMERT + 56
9 Jonas Van Genechten STOREZ LEDECQ MATERIAUX + 1'06
10 Matthias Friedemann TEAM 3C-GRUPPE LAMONTA + 1'14
11 Bram Schmitz VAN VLIET - EBH ADVOCATEN + 1'17
12 Paul Voss TEAM 3C-GRUPPE LAMONTA + 1'29
13 Lucas Persson UNIBET.COM CONTINENTAL + 2'57
14 Stanislav Kozúbek PSK WHIRLPOOL HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ + 3'04
15 Joost Van Leijen VAN VLIET - EBH ADVOCATEN + 3'05
16 Frantisek Kloucek PSK WHIRLPOOL HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ + 3'07
17 Boris Shpilevski KIO-ENE - TONAZZO - DMT + 3'14
18 Jeroen Boelen TIME - VAN HEMERT + 3'19
19 Thomas Riber-Sellebjerg TEAM GLS + 3'24
20 Michael Vanderaerden DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN + 3'25
21 Domenik Klemme TEAM 3C-GRUPPE LAMONTA + 3'33
22 Joze Senekovic ADRIA MOBIL + 3'37
23 Folkert De Haan UBBINK - SYNTEC CYCLING TEAM + 3'40
24 Maurizio Biondo KIO-ENE - TONAZZO - DMT + 3'52
25 Klaas Sys PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS + 4'03
26 Thomas Berkhout RABOBANK CONTINENTAL + 4'07
27 Bart Boom TEAM LÖWIK MEUBELEN + 4'11
28 Daniel Becke THÜRINGER ENERGIE TEAM s.t.
29 Jans Koerts TIME - VAN HEMERT + 4'12
30 Jérôme Baugnies DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN + 4'15
Points:
Rank Name Team General 1 Alejandro Serna PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS 102
2 Jans Koerts TIME - VAN HEMERT 99
3 Jurgen Roelandts DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN 91
4 Maurizio Biondo KIO-ENE - TONAZZO - DMT 90
5 Thomas Berkhout RABOBANK CONTINENTAL 63
6 Marvin Van der Pluijm UBBINK - SYNTEC CYCLING TEAM 60
7 Marko Kump ADRIA MOBIL 48
8 Peter Van Agtmaal FONDAS P3TRANSFER TEAM 43
9 Klaas Sys PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS 40
10 Martijn Keizer RABOBANK CONTINENTAL 37
Tomorrow's hilly stage leaves one final opportunity for me; it's not a stage of epic proportions, horizontally or vertically, and if I get to the finish with the lead group it could work out in my favour. Here's hoping.
Into the hills today, a 160km stage from Son en Breugel to Bruchten.
Kio - Ene's Devis Miorin took advantage of a slow start and jumped away, for what would turn out to be a pretty epic solo. He would take the King of the Mountains lead. Behind him nobody else wanted to attack so we were left to make the pace, which meant we could keep it pretty steady.
We were forced to do a lot of work to catch him, defending my yellow jersey. My team-mates, especially Fontaine, Burton and Fabio Polazzi, rode superbly, taking turns on the front to bring back the Italian.
They managed to pull him in with 7km left and positioned me well for the sprint, Michael Polazzi protecting me. A lot of sprinters had been tired or even shed by the hills so it was looking up for me.
It was Kio - Ene who shaped the sprint finish as well - Cadamuro shot out of the pack and Michael dragged me towards him as we created a bit of a gap on the rest.
Michael just wasn't moving that bit fast enough to catch him though. I went around him and got myself onto Cadamuro's wheel, my team-mate now in mine.
I made my move.
I rolled over the line and into mayhem. At the finish I was embraced by the team staff and my team-mates, interviewed by Dutch TV and congratulated by both Cadamuro and Roelandts. I was whisked onto the podium and drowned in champagne. Later that night I fielded calls from all my friends and made one to my parents. It was hectic. But I loved every second of it.
Just to confirm and show that Michael finished brilliantly as well:
Rank Name Team Time 1 Alejandro Serna PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS 4h03'57
2 Simone Cadamuro KIO-ENE - TONAZZO - DMT s.t.
3 Michaël Polazzi PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS s.t.
4 Arne Hassink UBBINK - SYNTEC CYCLING TEAM s.t.
5 Ricardo Van der Velde RABOBANK CONTINENTAL s.t.
6 Petr Bencik PSK WHIRLPOOL HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ s.t.
7 Maurizio Biondo KIO-ENE - TONAZZO - DMT s.t.
8 Klaas Sys PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS s.t.
9 Stanislav Kozúbek PSK WHIRLPOOL HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ s.t.
10 Maarten Neyens DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN s.t.
11 Pieter Riis Andersen TEAM GLS s.t.
12 Alain Van Katwijk VAN VLIET - EBH ADVOCATEN s.t.
13 Thomas Berkhout RABOBANK CONTINENTAL s.t.
14 Boris Shpilevski KIO-ENE - TONAZZO - DMT s.t.
15 Paul Van Schalen UBBINK - SYNTEC CYCLING TEAM s.t.
16 Paul Voss TEAM 3C-GRUPPE LAMONTA s.t.
17 Jonathan Godfroid STOREZ LEDECQ MATERIAUX s.t.
18 Simon Spilak ADRIA MOBIL s.t.
19 Erik Hoffmann TEAM 3C-GRUPPE LAMONTA s.t.
20 Fabio Polazzi PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS s.t.
21 Jonas Van Genechten STOREZ LEDECQ MATERIAUX s.t.
22 Kristoffer Nielsen TEAM GLS s.t.
23 Marcel Barth THÜRINGER ENERGIE TEAM s.t.
24 Ger Soepenberg FONDAS P3TRANSFER TEAM s.t.
25 Sergej Fuchs TEAM 3C-GRUPPE LAMONTA s.t.
26 Jans Koerts TIME - VAN HEMERT s.t.
27 Lars Boom RABOBANK CONTINENTAL s.t.
28 Bram Schmitz VAN VLIET - EBH ADVOCATEN s.t.
29 Laurent Mars STOREZ LEDECQ MATERIAUX s.t.
30 Jérémy Burton PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS s.t.
31 Jan Almblad TEAM GLS s.t.
32 Dieter Cappelle UNIBET.COM CONTINENTAL s.t.
33 Domenik Klemme TEAM 3C-GRUPPE LAMONTA s.t.
34 Thomas Degand STOREZ LEDECQ MATERIAUX s.t.
35 Jurgen Roelandts DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN s.t.
36 Thomas Oredsson TEAM GLS s.t.
37 Bart Boom TEAM LÖWIK MEUBELEN s.t.
38 Jérôme Baugnies DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN s.t.
39 Martijn Keizer RABOBANK CONTINENTAL s.t.
40 Florian Frohn THÜRINGER ENERGIE TEAM s.t.
41 Daniel Becke THÜRINGER ENERGIE TEAM s.t.
42 Johnny Hoogerland VAN VLIET - EBH ADVOCATEN s.t.
43 Marco Osella KIO-ENE - TONAZZO - DMT s.t.
44 Lucas Persson UNIBET.COM CONTINENTAL s.t.
45 Kenny Van der Schueren UNIBET.COM CONTINENTAL s.t.
46 Boy Van Poppel RABOBANK CONTINENTAL s.t.
47 Joost Van Leijen VAN VLIET - EBH ADVOCATEN + 1'41
48 Jeroen Boelen TIME - VAN HEMERT s.t.
49 Thomas Riber-Sellebjerg TEAM GLS s.t.
50 Joze Senekovic ADRIA MOBIL s.t.
51 Thijs Van Amerongen VAN VLIET - EBH ADVOCATEN s.t.
52 Massimo Mazzanti KIO-ENE - TONAZZO - DMT s.t.
53 Thomas Kristiansen TEAM GLS s.t.
54 Matthias Friedemann TEAM 3C-GRUPPE LAMONTA s.t.
55 Stijn Ennekens UNIBET.COM CONTINENTAL s.t.
56 Stefan Huizinga VAN VLIET - EBH ADVOCATEN s.t.
57 Laurent Fontaine PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS s.t.
58 Frantisek Kloucek PSK WHIRLPOOL HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ s.t.
59 Oliver Giesecke THÜRINGER ENERGIE TEAM s.t.
60 Yvo Kusters TIME - VAN HEMERT s.t.
61 Peter Schep UBBINK - SYNTEC CYCLING TEAM + 2'37
62 Roy Curvers TIME - VAN HEMERT + 3'01
63 Antonin Linda PSK WHIRLPOOL HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ s.t.
64 Blaz Jarc ADRIA MOBIL + 3'33
65 Michael Vanderaerden DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN + 4'37
66 Marko Kump ADRIA MOBIL s.t.
67 Norbert Poels FONDAS P3TRANSFER TEAM s.t.
68 Jean-Noël Wolf STOREZ LEDECQ MATERIAUX s.t.
69 Jure Zrimsek ADRIA MOBIL s.t.
70 Folkert De Haan UBBINK - SYNTEC CYCLING TEAM s.t.
71 Marcel Beima TIME - VAN HEMERT s.t.
72 Sascha Damrow THÜRINGER ENERGIE TEAM s.t.
73 Dennis Smit UBBINK - SYNTEC CYCLING TEAM s.t.
74 Marvin Van der Pluijm UBBINK - SYNTEC CYCLING TEAM s.t.
75 Wataru Otsuka STOREZ LEDECQ MATERIAUX s.t.
76 Peter Van Agtmaal FONDAS P3TRANSFER TEAM s.t.
77 Jonathan Bertrand UNIBET.COM CONTINENTAL s.t.
78 Kristof Goddaert DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN s.t.
79 Sierk Jan De Haan TIME - VAN HEMERT s.t.
80 Jure Zagar ADRIA MOBIL s.t.
81 Savié Van Horik FONDAS P3TRANSFER TEAM s.t.
82 Eelke Van der Wal FONDAS P3TRANSFER TEAM s.t.
83 Peter Olde Dubbelink TEAM LÖWIK MEUBELEN s.t.
84 Cornelius Van Ooijen TEAM LÖWIK MEUBELEN s.t.
85 Mitchell Huenders TEAM LÖWIK MEUBELEN s.t.
86 Niels Pieters TEAM LÖWIK MEUBELEN s.t.
87 Björn Gollhardt THÜRINGER ENERGIE TEAM s.t.
88 Lars Jun TEAM LÖWIK MEUBELEN + 7'09
89 Georgios Tentsos PSK WHIRLPOOL HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ + 9'01
90 Devis Miorin KIO-ENE - TONAZZO - DMT s.t.
91 Vojtech Dlouhý PSK WHIRLPOOL HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ s.t.
92 Sebastian Pristl TEAM 3C-GRUPPE LAMONTA s.t.
93 Roel Paulissen DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN + 11'49
94 Ben Van der Kooi FONDAS P3TRANSFER TEAM + 13'57
It also strengthens my GC lead, ahead of tomorrows monster stage, with Klaas moving to 17th:
Rank Name Team Time 1 Alejandro Serna PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS 27h50'29
2 Jurgen Roelandts DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN + 20
3 Lars Boom RABOBANK CONTINENTAL + 37
4 Pieter Riis Andersen TEAM GLS + 40
5 Arne Hassink UBBINK - SYNTEC CYCLING TEAM + 45
6 Kristoffer Nielsen TEAM GLS + 1'07
7 Simon Spilak ADRIA MOBIL + 1'13
8 Jonas Van Genechten STOREZ LEDECQ MATERIAUX + 1'26
9 Bram Schmitz VAN VLIET - EBH ADVOCATEN + 1'37
10 Paul Voss TEAM 3C-GRUPPE LAMONTA + 1'49
11 Matthias Friedemann TEAM 3C-GRUPPE LAMONTA + 3'15
12 Lucas Persson UNIBET.COM CONTINENTAL + 3'17
13 Stanislav Kozúbek PSK WHIRLPOOL HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ + 3'24
14 Boris Shpilevski KIO-ENE - TONAZZO - DMT + 3'34
15 Domenik Klemme TEAM 3C-GRUPPE LAMONTA + 3'53
16 Maurizio Biondo KIO-ENE - TONAZZO - DMT + 4'12
17 Klaas Sys PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS + 4'23
18 Thomas Berkhout RABOBANK CONTINENTAL + 4'27
19 Bart Boom TEAM LÖWIK MEUBELEN + 4'31
20 Daniel Becke THÜRINGER ENERGIE TEAM s.t.
21 Jans Koerts TIME - VAN HEMERT + 4'32
22 Jérôme Baugnies DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN + 4'35
23 Dieter Cappelle UNIBET.COM CONTINENTAL + 4'36
24 Johnny Hoogerland VAN VLIET - EBH ADVOCATEN + 4'45
25 Paul Van Schalen UBBINK - SYNTEC CYCLING TEAM + 5'02
26 Joost Van Leijen VAN VLIET - EBH ADVOCATEN + 5'06
27 Frantisek Kloucek PSK WHIRLPOOL HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ + 5'08
28 Maarten Neyens DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN + 5'13
29 Alain Van Katwijk VAN VLIET - EBH ADVOCATEN s.t.
30 Jeroen Boelen TIME - VAN HEMERT + 5'20
I have at least secured the points jersey and will take something else home from the Netherlands:
Rank Name Team General 1 Alejandro Serna PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS 127
2 Maurizio Biondo KIO-ENE - TONAZZO - DMT 99
3 Jans Koerts TIME - VAN HEMERT 99
4 Jurgen Roelandts DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN 91
5 Thomas Berkhout RABOBANK CONTINENTAL 66
6 Marvin Van der Pluijm UBBINK - SYNTEC CYCLING TEAM 60
7 Klaas Sys PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS 48
8 Marko Kump ADRIA MOBIL 48
9 Simone Cadamuro KIO-ENE - TONAZZO - DMT 43
10 Peter Van Agtmaal FONDAS P3TRANSFER TEAM 43
I have 37 seconds over Lars Boom ahead of the final stage through Holland's toughest hills. I may lose it but, if I do, I'm gonna go down fighting!
A long ride that will rack up 200km and 2289 vertical metres of climbing on the little bike computer. This is the real reckoning for me and, although I have diamond legs, the hills aren't my best terrain. Lars Boom is your best bet for the stage win as we cross steep-son-of-a-bitch-of-a-climb after steep-son-of-a-bitch-of-a-climb. I'm gonna need to put in one hell of a ride to take the overall win.
Once again, the Dutch wind decided it should come out to play so, with a break already up the road, the whole team moved towards the front of the bunch. And, lo and behold, with 100km to go, the bunch was split by Rabobank and we were away with them.
The crosswinds favour my riding but they far from disadvantage Boom. In this group though, I most likely have my second place secured unless the break, containing 15th overall Domenik Klemme, stay away.
On a steep wall of an ascent with 30km remaining, Boom made his move.
I may have had diamond legs but by this time they were turning into normal carbon fast and I knew better than to follow him. He flew away from us and past the break and he was soon solo.
Behind I was glad I hadn't followed him as I was being dropped on the following climb by the Kio - Ene squad, led by KOM winner Miorin, while my team-mates, who had done so much work for me, today and throughout the tour, were dropping like flies.
I found my second wind though and pursued and caught them on the descent and started working in an attempt to catch Boom.
Over the final 10km I kept the gap pretty much at a constant to Boom, dropping the Kio - Ene team in the process. I led out Bencik in the sprint.
He began to come over the top of me the moment I heard that Boom had won.
I kept fighting for second, maybe for pride, maybe in naive hope. I just managed it. But it wasn't enough for the win. Boom took the stage and the overall spoils.
Second on the stage:
Rank Name Team Time
1 Lars Boom RABOBANK CONTINENTAL 5h14'09 2 Alejandro Serna PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS + 1'16
3 Petr Bencik PSK WHIRLPOOL HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ s.t.
4 Devis Miorin KIO-ENE - TONAZZO - DMT s.t.
5 Simone Cadamuro KIO-ENE - TONAZZO - DMT s.t.
6 Marco Osella KIO-ENE - TONAZZO - DMT + 3'00
7 Thomas Berkhout RABOBANK CONTINENTAL + 4'36
8 Simon Spilak ADRIA MOBIL s.t.
9 Kristoffer Nielsen TEAM GLS s.t.
10 Jurgen Roelandts DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN s.t.
11 Jonathan Godfroid STOREZ LEDECQ MATERIAUX s.t.
12 Stanislav Kozúbek PSK WHIRLPOOL HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ s.t.
13 Alain Van Katwijk VAN VLIET - EBH ADVOCATEN s.t.
14 Maarten Neyens DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN s.t.
15 Johnny Hoogerland VAN VLIET - EBH ADVOCATEN s.t.
16 Arne Hassink UBBINK - SYNTEC CYCLING TEAM s.t.
17 Pieter Riis Andersen TEAM GLS s.t.
18 Bram Schmitz VAN VLIET - EBH ADVOCATEN s.t.
19 Paul Voss TEAM 3C-GRUPPE LAMONTA s.t.
20 Thomas Degand STOREZ LEDECQ MATERIAUX s.t.
21 Jérôme Baugnies DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN s.t.
22 Boris Shpilevski KIO-ENE - TONAZZO - DMT s.t.
23 Maurizio Biondo KIO-ENE - TONAZZO - DMT s.t.
24 Erik Hoffmann TEAM 3C-GRUPPE LAMONTA s.t.
25 Ger Soepenberg FONDAS P3TRANSFER TEAM s.t.
26 Jeroen Boelen TIME - VAN HEMERT s.t.
27 Sergej Fuchs TEAM 3C-GRUPPE LAMONTA s.t.
28 Jérémy Burton PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS s.t.
29 Jonas Van Genechten STOREZ LEDECQ MATERIAUX s.t.
30 Kenny Van der Schueren UNIBET.COM CONTINENTAL s.t.
31 Lucas Persson UNIBET.COM CONTINENTAL s.t.
32 Laurent Mars STOREZ LEDECQ MATERIAUX s.t.
33 Paul Van Schalen UBBINK - SYNTEC CYCLING TEAM s.t.
34 Thomas Riber-Sellebjerg TEAM GLS s.t.
35 Marcel Beima TIME - VAN HEMERT s.t.
36 Bart Boom TEAM LÖWIK MEUBELEN s.t.
37 Klaas Sys PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS s.t.
38 Jan Almblad TEAM GLS s.t.
39 Fabio Polazzi PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS s.t.
40 Florian Frohn THÜRINGER ENERGIE TEAM s.t.
41 Marcel Barth THÜRINGER ENERGIE TEAM s.t.
42 Dieter Cappelle UNIBET.COM CONTINENTAL s.t.
43 Thomas Kristiansen TEAM GLS s.t.
44 Björn Gollhardt THÜRINGER ENERGIE TEAM s.t.
45 Michaël Polazzi PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS s.t.
46 Martijn Keizer RABOBANK CONTINENTAL s.t.
47 Joost Van Leijen VAN VLIET - EBH ADVOCATEN s.t.
48 Ricardo Van der Velde RABOBANK CONTINENTAL s.t.
49 Kristof Goddaert DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN s.t.
50 Sascha Damrow THÜRINGER ENERGIE TEAM s.t.
51 Daniel Becke THÜRINGER ENERGIE TEAM s.t.
52 Thijs Van Amerongen VAN VLIET - EBH ADVOCATEN + 7'40
53 Michael Vanderaerden DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN + 8'44
54 Sebastian Pristl TEAM 3C-GRUPPE LAMONTA s.t.
55 Oliver Giesecke THÜRINGER ENERGIE TEAM s.t.
56 Stefan Huizinga VAN VLIET - EBH ADVOCATEN s.t.
57 Blaz Jarc ADRIA MOBIL s.t.
58 Georgios Tentsos PSK WHIRLPOOL HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ s.t.
59 Marvin Van der Pluijm UBBINK - SYNTEC CYCLING TEAM + 9'56
60 Stijn Ennekens UNIBET.COM CONTINENTAL s.t.
61 Jans Koerts TIME - VAN HEMERT s.t.
62 Joze Senekovic ADRIA MOBIL s.t.
63 Frantisek Kloucek PSK WHIRLPOOL HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ s.t.
64 Domenik Klemme TEAM 3C-GRUPPE LAMONTA s.t.
65 Thomas Oredsson TEAM GLS s.t.
66 Cornelius Van Ooijen TEAM LÖWIK MEUBELEN s.t.
67 Massimo Mazzanti KIO-ENE - TONAZZO - DMT s.t.
68 Marko Kump ADRIA MOBIL s.t.
69 Boy Van Poppel RABOBANK CONTINENTAL s.t.
70 Peter Schep UBBINK - SYNTEC CYCLING TEAM s.t.
71 Peter Van Agtmaal FONDAS P3TRANSFER TEAM + 10'52
72 Niels Pieters TEAM LÖWIK MEUBELEN s.t.
73 Yvo Kusters TIME - VAN HEMERT s.t.
74 Dennis Smit UBBINK - SYNTEC CYCLING TEAM + 11'32
75 Jean-Noël Wolf STOREZ LEDECQ MATERIAUX s.t.
76 Antonin Linda PSK WHIRLPOOL HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ s.t.
77 Vojtech Dlouhý PSK WHIRLPOOL HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ s.t.
78 Wataru Otsuka STOREZ LEDECQ MATERIAUX s.t.
79 Roel Paulissen DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN s.t.
80 Peter Olde Dubbelink TEAM LÖWIK MEUBELEN s.t.
81 Jure Zagar ADRIA MOBIL + 12'36
82 Lars Jun TEAM LÖWIK MEUBELEN + 13'08
83 Ben Van der Kooi FONDAS P3TRANSFER TEAM + 14'20
84 Jonathan Bertrand UNIBET.COM CONTINENTAL + 15'56
85 Roy Curvers TIME - VAN HEMERT + 16'20
86 Eelke Van der Wal FONDAS P3TRANSFER TEAM s.t.
87 Laurent Fontaine PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS s.t.
88 Savié Van Horik FONDAS P3TRANSFER TEAM s.t.
89 Norbert Poels FONDAS P3TRANSFER TEAM + 17'24
90 Matthias Friedemann TEAM 3C-GRUPPE LAMONTA + 17'48
91 Folkert De Haan UBBINK - SYNTEC CYCLING TEAM + 18'52
92 Sierk Jan De Haan TIME - VAN HEMERT s.t.
93 Jure Zrimsek ADRIA MOBIL s.t.
94 Mitchell Huenders TEAM LÖWIK MEUBELEN + 23'32
Second in Final GC:
Rank Name Team Time
1 Lars Boom RABOBANK CONTINENTAL 33h04'43 2 Alejandro Serna PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS + 51
3 Jurgen Roelandts DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN + 4'51
4 Pieter Riis Andersen TEAM GLS + 5'11
5 Arne Hassink UBBINK - SYNTEC CYCLING TEAM + 5'16
6 Kristoffer Nielsen TEAM GLS + 5'38
7 Simon Spilak ADRIA MOBIL + 5'44
8 Jonas Van Genechten STOREZ LEDECQ MATERIAUX + 5'57
9 Bram Schmitz VAN VLIET - EBH ADVOCATEN + 6'08
10 Paul Voss TEAM 3C-GRUPPE LAMONTA + 6'20
11 Petr Bencik PSK WHIRLPOOL HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ + 6'42
12 Lucas Persson UNIBET.COM CONTINENTAL + 7'48
13 Stanislav Kozúbek PSK WHIRLPOOL HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ + 7'55
14 Boris Shpilevski KIO-ENE - TONAZZO - DMT + 8'05
15 Marco Osella KIO-ENE - TONAZZO - DMT + 8'21
16 Maurizio Biondo KIO-ENE - TONAZZO - DMT + 8'43
17 Klaas Sys PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS + 8'54
18 Thomas Berkhout RABOBANK CONTINENTAL + 8'58
19 Bart Boom TEAM LÖWIK MEUBELEN + 9'02
20 Daniel Becke THÜRINGER ENERGIE TEAM s.t.
21 Jérôme Baugnies DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN + 9'06
22 Dieter Cappelle UNIBET.COM CONTINENTAL + 9'07
23 Johnny Hoogerland VAN VLIET - EBH ADVOCATEN + 9'16
24 Paul Van Schalen UBBINK - SYNTEC CYCLING TEAM + 9'33
25 Joost Van Leijen VAN VLIET - EBH ADVOCATEN + 9'37
26 Maarten Neyens DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN + 9'44
27 Alain Van Katwijk VAN VLIET - EBH ADVOCATEN s.t.
28 Jeroen Boelen TIME - VAN HEMERT + 9'51
29 Ger Soepenberg FONDAS P3TRANSFER TEAM + 9'55
30 Thomas Riber-Sellebjerg TEAM GLS + 9'56
31 Kenny Van der Schueren UNIBET.COM CONTINENTAL + 10'00
32 Marcel Barth THÜRINGER ENERGIE TEAM + 10'06
33 Ricardo Van der Velde RABOBANK CONTINENTAL + 10'13
34 Jonathan Godfroid STOREZ LEDECQ MATERIAUX + 10'20
35 Simone Cadamuro KIO-ENE - TONAZZO - DMT + 12'17
36 Florian Frohn THÜRINGER ENERGIE TEAM + 12'32
37 Erik Hoffmann TEAM 3C-GRUPPE LAMONTA + 12'42
38 Domenik Klemme TEAM 3C-GRUPPE LAMONTA + 13'40
39 Laurent Mars STOREZ LEDECQ MATERIAUX + 13'53
40 Marcel Beima TIME - VAN HEMERT + 14'00
41 Jans Koerts TIME - VAN HEMERT + 14'23
42 Michaël Polazzi PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS + 14'26
43 Jan Almblad TEAM GLS + 14'31
44 Martijn Keizer RABOBANK CONTINENTAL + 14'45
45 Frantisek Kloucek PSK WHIRLPOOL HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ + 14'59
46 Thijs Van Amerongen VAN VLIET - EBH ADVOCATEN + 15'29
47 Joze Senekovic ADRIA MOBIL s.t.
48 Sascha Damrow THÜRINGER ENERGIE TEAM + 16'59
49 Michael Vanderaerden DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN + 17'01
50 Fabio Polazzi PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS + 17'26
51 Björn Gollhardt THÜRINGER ENERGIE TEAM + 17'38
52 Peter Schep UBBINK - SYNTEC CYCLING TEAM + 17'58
53 Devis Miorin KIO-ENE - TONAZZO - DMT + 18'01
54 Marko Kump ADRIA MOBIL + 19'18
55 Jérémy Burton PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS + 19'50
56 Thomas Oredsson TEAM GLS + 19'53
57 Marvin Van der Pluijm UBBINK - SYNTEC CYCLING TEAM + 20'05
58 Peter Van Agtmaal FONDAS P3TRANSFER TEAM + 20'10
59 Boy Van Poppel RABOBANK CONTINENTAL + 20'26
60 Niels Pieters TEAM LÖWIK MEUBELEN + 20'48
61 Matthias Friedemann TEAM 3C-GRUPPE LAMONTA + 20'58
62 Stijn Ennekens UNIBET.COM CONTINENTAL + 21'26
63 Dennis Smit UBBINK - SYNTEC CYCLING TEAM + 21'40
64 Thomas Degand STOREZ LEDECQ MATERIAUX + 22'41
65 Yvo Kusters TIME - VAN HEMERT + 24'14
66 Sierk Jan De Haan TIME - VAN HEMERT + 24'40
67 Roy Curvers TIME - VAN HEMERT + 25'02
68 Kristof Goddaert DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN + 25'05
69 Thomas Kristiansen TEAM GLS + 25'14
70 Sergej Fuchs TEAM 3C-GRUPPE LAMONTA + 25'18
71 Sebastian Pristl TEAM 3C-GRUPPE LAMONTA + 25'56
72 Cornelius Van Ooijen TEAM LÖWIK MEUBELEN + 26'07
73 Jean-Noël Wolf STOREZ LEDECQ MATERIAUX + 26'09
74 Norbert Poels FONDAS P3TRANSFER TEAM + 27'10
75 Folkert De Haan UBBINK - SYNTEC CYCLING TEAM + 27'24
76 Massimo Mazzanti KIO-ENE - TONAZZO - DMT + 27'46
77 Jure Zrimsek ADRIA MOBIL + 28'01
78 Lars Jun TEAM LÖWIK MEUBELEN + 30'15
79 Blaz Jarc ADRIA MOBIL + 31'12
80 Jure Zagar ADRIA MOBIL + 35'18
81 Georgios Tentsos PSK WHIRLPOOL HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ + 36'57
82 Savié Van Horik FONDAS P3TRANSFER TEAM + 38'18
83 Eelke Van der Wal FONDAS P3TRANSFER TEAM + 38'22
84 Mitchell Huenders TEAM LÖWIK MEUBELEN + 38'34
85 Peter Olde Dubbelink TEAM LÖWIK MEUBELEN + 39'52
86 Antonin Linda PSK WHIRLPOOL HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ + 41'33
87 Ben Van der Kooi FONDAS P3TRANSFER TEAM + 41'47
88 Laurent Fontaine PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS + 42'57
89 Stefan Huizinga VAN VLIET - EBH ADVOCATEN + 48'58
90 Wataru Otsuka STOREZ LEDECQ MATERIAUX + 49'24
91 Vojtech Dlouhý PSK WHIRLPOOL HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ + 50'15
92 Oliver Giesecke THÜRINGER ENERGIE TEAM + 52'03
93 Roel Paulissen DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN + 53'22
94 Jonathan Bertrand UNIBET.COM CONTINENTAL + 58'45
I at least managed to win the green points jersey:
Rank Name Team General 1 Alejandro Serna PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS 155
2 Maurizio Biondo KIO-ENE - TONAZZO - DMT 99
3 Jans Koerts TIME - VAN HEMERT 99
4 Jurgen Roelandts DAVITAMON - WIN FOR LIFE - JONG VLAANDEREN 97
5 Thomas Berkhout RABOBANK CONTINENTAL 75
6 Lars Boom RABOBANK CONTINENTAL 71
7 Marvin Van der Pluijm UBBINK - SYNTEC CYCLING TEAM 60
8 Simone Cadamuro KIO-ENE - TONAZZO - DMT 57
9 Klaas Sys PÔLE CONTINENTAL WALLON BODYSOL - EUROMILLIONS 48
10 Marko Kump ADRIA MOBIL 48
All in all, a successful Tour - a stage win, the points jersey, two stints in yellow, 6 podiums for me and 9 for the team. That concludes the first half of my season as the Giro closes and will kick off again when the Tour does the same. I'm building up for the Circuit Franco Belge, when hopefully most of the peloton will have put their bikes in the garage and headed off for Cuba. For the moment I'm gonna get some needed rest and relaxation and try and sort out who I'll be riding for next season.
A_Schleck wrote:
Great effort by Alejandro in the last stage. Seemed like Boom was always going to win though.
yeah, its basically the ideal tour for him. I just managed to time my effort perfect, use up all my energy and only crack in the sprint. Plus I used my downhill skill well. I think that was ironically the best stage I've ever raced in terms of my own playing ability
