Kittel claims opening stage in Orchies

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Marcel Kittel of Skil-Shimano won the mass sprint deciding the first stage at the Four Days of Dunkirk. The German beat Denis Galimzyanov (Katusha) and Giacomo Nizzolo (Leopard Trek) for stage honours.

For Kittel, who turns 22 in one week, it was the second win of the season. Kittel had won the third stage of the Tour of Langkawi plus finished second in the sprint finish at Rund um Köln.

The German stage winner also assumed the general classification lead. With time bonuses factored in Kittel leads Galimzyanov by 10 seconds and Nizzolo by 12 seconds.

Kittel further proved his sprint abilities in the opening Four Days of Dunkirk stage by also winning both intermediate sprints.

There were two climbs in the early part of the stage, which ran 180.6km from Dunkirk to Orchies but neither proved difficult enough to break up the peloton.

There were numerous escape attempts, but the group stayed pretty much together until km 81 when Stefano Borchi (De Rosa-Ceramica Flaminia) was finally able to establish a break. The Italian was able to get well away, building up a gap of 7:35.

The sprinter's teams were having none of that, though, and went to work chasing him down, with Katusha and Leopard Trek leading much of the chase. With 16km to go, Borchi was back in the group.

Things stayed together from there to the end, with the expected mass sprint finish producing an unexpected winner.

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