The final stage of the first ever Ronde van Nederland, and our only hilly-rated day. However it’s more undulating than anything resembling an Ardennes classic (except the opening third), which will be music to the ears of GC leader Van Stayen, who is among the better puncheurs but would no doubt prefer a reduced bunch sprint - as would Stage 1 winner Demare, who will look to strike back after losing the yellow jersey in yesterday's sprint.
Standing in their way today are the likes of Hagen and Bakelants - the puncheurs. Best placed on GC among them is Van Garderen who stole some bonuses in Stage 1's uphill dash to the line. They will hope the early hills tire the peloton out enough that they can utilise the smaller late climbs to get away from the bunch.
The first attempt at a breakaway is successful as we see five riders get away, who will fight for the KoM crown and to try and foil the bunch. Lane Schachmann (2nd KoM, 18pts, 14th GC, 0:33) Pernsteiner Carpenter and Zakarin (61st GC, 0:36). Five very good puncheurs and if they're up for it we could see a very entertaining KoM fight, with a maximum of 54 points up for grabs. So Schachmann with a decent but not overwhelming advantage. Meanwhile perhaps Pernsteiner hopes for a repeat of his last stage antics in the Basque Country, finishing 5th on the Stage and moving to the top 15 on GC a fortnight ago.
Interestingly 3rd in the KoM (12pts) and Lane's teammate Dyball bridges just before the opening climb.
Over the opening 7 (!) climbs it seems like Dyball with Lane as a leadout vs the strength of Zakarin vs the punch of Schachmann, with the others not really contesting 100%. Even some mishaps with Lane slowing up but Dyball not coming around on occasion when they dominated!
KoM #1
Dyball
Schachmann
Lane
KoM #2
Zakarin
Dyball
Schachmann
KoM #3
Lane
Dyball
Carpenter
KoM #4
Dyball
Schachmann
Zakarin
KoM #5
Schachmann
Pernsteiner
Zakarin
KoM #6
Schachmann
Zakarin
Pernsteiner
KoM #7
Zakarin
Schachmann
Carpenter
Some amazing efforts on 5, 6 and 7 from a long way out to reclaim the lead by Schachmann after losing it for a while to the probably superior today Dyball. The race for the KoM is over with a 16 point gap and just 12 on offer in the final third of the race. A decent gap of 8'13 with 122km to go, the peloton taking it easy over the hills.
A close finish at KoM #4, the Eperheide climb
Sprint #1
Schachmann
Dyball
Carpenter
Sprint #2
Schachmann
Carpenter
Dyball
Carpenter takes the penultimate KoM with under 30km to go ahead of Zakarin, meanwhile Dyball has been caught by the bunch and with just 20 seconds for the middle group and 50 for our leaders, he won't be the only one as Sbaragli turns up the heat here. The peloton at around 130 riders now, many of the "fatty sprinters" are dropped.
Dzamastagic catches the breakaway survivors with 25km to go and 5km to the summit of the last classified climb. The yellow jersey's other leadout-man turned hilly helper, Van Avermaet, is right beside the Slovenian. But the bigger worries for Evonik are just behind them, where Hagen and Bakelants lie like snakes in the grass.
1.3km to the summit now and Bobridge opens hostilities! The Aussie took the Vuelta al Pais Vasco by conservative riding but if he wants another GC win this March, he's going to have to go on the offensive!
He's quickly followed by Sagan, whilst Van Avermaet comes to the front and looks to shut this one down!
A great effort from the Belgian but it's not enough, which his countryman Bakelants realises and attacks! Hagen and Van Garderen were waiting for it and almost casually respond, as does De Bie.
In a peverse way, this multitude of attackers helps Evonik, as Van Avermaet cruises through the slipstream of the latest round to mop them all up over the top. De Bie is quick to try again! 19km to go.
A group of 15 are on the brink of getting away, with Van der Lijke, Lammertink and Bakelants on the wrong side! They are: Van Stayen, Van Avermaet, Dzamastagic Boeckmans, Gillet Demare, Felline De Bie Hagen Bobridge McEvoy Gastauer Ginanni Sagan Van Garderen.
However the Sanremo winner shuts it down as Evonik try to restore order.
Meanwhile 3rd and 9th on GC, Kristoff and Houle, have both been dropped.
A lull at 12km to go and McEvoy wants to exploit it! Not a name mentioned a lot before the race, but a very good puncheur and sprinter, so interesting to see him on the offensive. I guess with the likes of Van Staeyen and Demare around you do what you can.
The final real climb of the day here, and Bakelants goes for it, followed by Hagen! A decent gap for McEvoy but is disintegrates as soon as the big boys come out to play!
Van Garderen, De Bie and Gastauer look to follow, but it's probably the two MVPs of this entire race, Van Avermaet and Dzamastagic, who are doing a good job at keeping the wheel over the top!
But those five, plus Demare and Flügel, have a gap after the descent to a 19-man group! Vakoc, Cavendish and Mohoric the big names missing from both.
Van Avermaet catches Flugel, gives his last and lets a gap open to Sagan, Van Staeyen and Ginanni, who are now attempting to bridge to the leaders! These open, straight roads not good for attackers. Meanwhile
Van der Lijke, Grosu, white jersey Zabel and Borges have been dropped!
A quick overview of the groups and gaps with 6km to go. Meanwhile Bobridge is attacking his group to catch up to the catcher-uppers!
Van Stayen, like a true yellow jersey holder, shuts the gap himself after Sagan couldn't, and we now have nine leaders with 36 seconds to Bobridge, and Van Staeyen is in the driving seat! Given at this point he'd have to get at least two bonus seconds, only Demare can touch him now!
3km to go and Bakelants won't give up, another attack here! Van Staeyen and Demare look tired at the back, even a small gap opening to Ginanni's wheel!
Hagen makes the catch in sight of the flamme rouge, 2.4km to go. Van Stayen following Demare like a lost puppy, but that's exactly what is required
Bakelants leads out the sprint from far out but only Hagen having to really launch here. Meanwhile Bobridge has made the bridge, what an effort!
A kilometre left, De Bie is leading now but just behind him are our yellow and green jerseys. With such a small gap on GC it's quite literally winner takes all - a stage win gets you the GC!
800m to go and Demare is slightly ahead as they are about to come around De Bie...
500m left and Van Staeyen has found his top speed, he's coming faster but is a full bike length behind!
300m, Demare still leading and the GC is almost within reach! De Bie looks good for third ahead of Hagen, but Van Garderen with a great sprint behind and looking for the GC podium!
Victory for Arnaud Demare! A superb sprint to hold off his nemesis Van Staeyen, and take back yellow on the final day here! Chapeau! I'm sure the Evonik manager will graciously concede that Demare is the better rider now. De Bie with actually a really really good sprint to secure fourth on GC. From now (TVG aside) the finishing order will probably be the GC order unless I'm mistaken!
Hagen will be fifth then, whilst Tejay keeps his advantage on De Bie to take a very nice GC podium. Attentiveness on Day 1 will be crucial here in future years one would imagine!
The very active Bakelants can only manage sixth ahead of Gastauer, Ginanni and Sagan. Bobridge secures a GC top 10 for his efforts but is completely dead in the sprint, following the wheels until 400m to go for a s.t. finish is all he can do.
A very nice sprint from Grosu for 11th, he won't close the gap but a great effort.
Oh but some farce here as more than 20 riders are awarded a same time finish! This means Grosu and Kump will get a top 5 on GC among others! Plenty of unhappy managers for sure here but the ruling stands! Oh dear...
The one thing they can't take away is the fantastic race and GC win of Arnaud Demare! The Frenchman took two stages and beat out his arch-rival Michael Van Staeyen for the win! A race of seconds for the Belgian - both the placing on all stages and the GC, and the six of them seperating him and Demare.
