Haedo gives Saxo a stage win in Franco-Belge

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Juan José Haedo (Saxo Bank) joined the winners list in the 2009 Franco-Belge with victory in the final stage to Tournai, Belgium, on Sunday. The Argentinean sprinter completed a well taken win ahead of Yauheni Hutarovich (Française Des Jeux) and an in-form Roger Hammond (Cervelo TestTeam).

In a hectic finale and despite a puncture with only five kilometers to go, race leader Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Slipstream) managed to reconnect with the peloton and claim overall victory in the Circuit Franco-Belge. The American fast-man finished eight seconds ahead of Belgian champion Tom Boonen (Quick Step) and 14 seconds clear of Hammond.

Calm start

Despite a relatively short final stage, the 150 riders that remained in Franco-Belge took it easy after leaving the start in Mons, Belgium. The first attack came after 35 kilometres and the four riders featured in it were allowed some initial freedom.

Stijn Vandenbergh (Katusha), Florent Brard (Cofidis), Fabrice Jeandesbosz (Besson Chaussures - Sojasun) and Martin Kohler (BMC Racing Team) made up the quartet who stole a march on the peloton.

An hour into the race, the gap to the Garmin-led peloton ran up to three minutes. It was an advantage the leader's group would hold until they reached the local circuit near Tournai, Belgium.

Kermesse at Tournai

Five laps of almost 15 kilometres around Tournai were left to cover, each time including the climb of the Croix Jubaru. A counter-attack by Lars Ytting Bak (Saxo Bank) was joined by Gianni Meersman (Française Des Jeux), Tomas Vaitkus (Astana) and Sergey Lagutin (Vacansoleil) joined the leaders with 40 kilometres left to race. The peloton was only one minute down on this group of eight riders and by the time the riders hit the penultimate lap the breakaway was neutralized.

Farrar punctures during last lap

The peloton split in two parts on the final lap, as the battle was for both the stage and overall victory heated up. Five kilometers from the finish line, race leader Tyler Farrar punctured. A teammate quickly came to his aid, but with three kilometres to go Farrar was still chasing back to the first group.

In the last kilometre the two groups reunited and a bunch sprint would once again decide the stage result. Juan José Haedo won ahead of Yauheni Hutarovich and Roger Hammond. Farrar finished 53rd on the stage, but it was enough for the Garmin rider to secure the overall win.