The Nederlands Wielerdagen conclude in style: today's criterium in and around Valkenburg will feature the famous Cauberg as finish-climb!
And even though the puncheurs won't have a chance to battle for the overall win, it's still a prestigious race, as a win in Valkenburg upgrades any rider's palmares.
As for the overall win we have three possible winners left: Van Poppel (30 points), Weylandt (22) and... Bos (20), who faces a couple of problems in a hilly race though.
First climb, first attacks: Libert (Nomadesk), Decouttere (Topsport) and Boeckmans (Bpost)!
Boeckmans has 6 points so far and wants to add some more today, obviously.
One and a half laps later, two riders try to follow: Van Aelbroeck (Bodysol) and Stoltz (Luxembourg). The early escapees lead by only 40" and so there's still a chance to join the break of the day.
And that's reason enough for Wouter Weylandt to break clear, too! Just as a reminder: he's 2nd in GC and needs to finish second or first today.
A tough challenge, but a breakaway is clearly his only chance to finish high on the Cauberg.
All of the latest attacks were succesfull and the three riders catch up to the early escapees halfway through the race (30km to go).
With the Cauberg in the background, the 6-men-group leads by 2'00" on the bunch.
And the action continues, as the first favorites launch their attacks: Einsle (Vesuvio), Stubbe (Accent) and Kreder (1t4i)!
Especially Kreder (10 points) can achieve something special today, while Einsle (7) won't have a chance to finish on GC-podium.
The three were joined by Bob Schoonbroodt (UPC) and with 17km to go, we have the following situation:
E1 (6) <- 36" -> E2 (4) <- 30" -> P
So anything is possible.
Less then 7km remain and on the final climb of the circuit, the top-favorites attack the bunch!
Seven riders made their move: Armee, Ten Dam, Kelderman, Kirsch, De Greef, Minnard and Hofland.
And the three groups are soon to join each other, we now have a 17-men-group with already 1'00" ahead of the bunch!
Sander Armee looks strong and launches another attack, just a few moments after he caught up to the leading group!
He enters the Cauberg (3km left) with a small advantage on Minnard, who also attacked!
E1/ Armee
E2/ Minnard at 0.13
E3/ 14 riders at 0.23
E4/ Kirchen at 0.44
Minnard closes up to Armee and with 2km left, they lead by 22" on the chasing group..
..where 6 riders appear to be too strong and drop their companions: Kelderman, Einsle, Ten Dam, De Greef, Kirsch and also Kreder!
So no chance for Weylandt to score points today, and also Simpelveld's winner Tom Criel is invisible so far (+ 1.40 in the bunch).
Back to the front of the race: Minnard accelerates under the kite and Armee struggles to catch his wheel immediately!
The chasing group, led by Kelderman, is still 15" behind.
Kelderman and De Greef still try to bridge the gap to Armee at least, while Kreder (who needs to finish 2nd to make the GC's podium) suffers.
Marco Minnard won't care, as he takes this race easily it seems! What a Cauberg-sprint for him, he even creates a 7"-gap on an also strong Sander Armee as 2nd.
Francis De Greef wins a close sprint against Wilco Kelderman, completing today's podium!
Ten Dam, Einsle and Kirsch follow, while Kreder lost 30" in the end and only finishes as 8th.
Schoonbroodt and Stubbe finish 54" behind Minnard and just ahead of Kim Kirchen, who just can't deliver in the Crits so far.
So thanks to Minnard winning, the final podium won't change: Van Poppel, Weylandt and Bos finish ahead of Van Hummel and Armee, who continues his good shape in the Crits Series.
Marco Minnard
Sander Armee
Sebastien Einsle
