Kristoff wins De Panne opener

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Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) managed to hold off the combined attacks of Astana duo Lieuwe Westra and Alexey Lutsenko to win the opening stage of the Three Days of De Panne after a tough day out in the rain and hills of Flanders.

The trio got away in the finale of the 198km stage that included 12 of the toughest climbs. Britain’s Luke Rowe (Team Sky) was also part of the decisive attack but punctured on the final climb of the Muur de Geraardsbergen. He finished fifth just behind 20 year-old Dane Mads Pedersen (Stölting Service Group) who had won the Under 23 version of Gent-Wevelgem on Sunday. They finished 29 down, with a group of 35 riders finishing at 36 seconds. Those time differences could prove decisive in the final two days of racing.

Westra and Lutsenko tried to out manoeuvre Kristoff but were also working to gain time on the chasers. As a result they struggled in the finale and Kristoff had no problems in leading out and then winning the sprint.

Kristoff missed Gent-Wevelgem due to a fever but looked back on track during the stage. He now leads the overall ahead of Lutsenko by one second with Westra third overall at six seconds.

Wednesday’s 211km second stage is from Zottegem to Koksijde and features the Kemmelberg and several other climbs after 110km of racing before three finishing circuits on the coast in Koksijde.

It was Kristoff’s sixth victory of the 2016 season after he won three stages at the Tour of Qatar and two at the Tour of Oman. He admitted it had been a hard day out, with fast, aggressive racing, rain and hailstone making a day for the tough men.

"It was really hard," he explained, adding that today's stage was his first day of intensity since the E3 Harelbeke, where he first fell ill. "I felt good in the start but after 100km, I started to feel bad. But I think it was that way for everyone, it was a hard day. It split apart from kilometer zero, and it was all day a bloc. I was all the time in the front but we never got a big gap, it was always close."

"Westra was the strongest one of the group, he was pulling me and Lutsenko all the way to the line almost. I tried to contribute but I didn't really have the legs. In the end I managed to survive and I was there at the end. I've been a bit sick, and I think I needed this day. I hope I have better legs tomorrow, I was suffering all day today. In the end I managed to win but I was really struggling.

"They were also riding for the classement. I know Westra is really good in the time trial, and they are in a good position now. They were riding for this so they didn't attack me so early."

Kristoff played down his own chances of overall success, perhaps keen to save his legs for Sunday’s Tour of Flanders.

"I didn't feel as strong as I did last year. I think I’ll suffer a bit to do a good time trial. I will try though, we'll see how it goes."

How it happened

The riders were still saddened about the death of Daan Myngheer and Antoine Demoitié before the start of the stage and carefully respected a minutes silence. The riders were wrapped up for a bad day’s weather and they would need it, with rain and even hailstone falling during the race.

177 riders started but a crash in the neutralised section forced Pat Bevin (Cannondale) to quit and Frenchman Yoann Offredo (FDJ) also climbed off due to illness.

The racing start fast with the peloton immediately splitting into three groups and the first hour was covered at 53km/h. Two chasing groups eventually came together but the lead group of 30 riders kept pushing on, even as heavy rain began to fall.

The early climbs reduced the front group to just 13 riders, with Taylor Phinney and his BMC teammates Rik Zabel and Loïc Vliegen in the move as the riders passed under the finish in Zottegem for the first time before head out to tackle more Flemish climbs. Kristoff was there too, as were Westra, Lutsenko and Rowe. Behind Etixx-QuickStep lead the chase after again failing to make the right selection in numbers but again they ran out of steam and missed out on a result. Tony Martin would be their best finisher in sixth place.

The Hellingen came thick in fast in the second half of the race, with the Muur de Geraardsbergen climbed twice. The hilly profile proved the downfall of many in the front group. The Berendries caused some pain and then the Ten Bosse split the front group, with Rowe, Kristoff, Westra and Lutsenko going clear. They got a gap as team tactics played a factor and kit the Muur together for the final time. The riders jumped onto the smoother sidewalk but it proved a decisive moment for Rowe, with the Welshman flatting. He got a wheel and chased hard but the other three had disappeared around the corners of the legendary climb.

They worked well together to ensure that they gained time before the often decisive time trial stage, with Westra doing lots of work as Kristoff often missed a turn. The Norwegian was worried that the two Astana riders would take turns to attack him but they failed to combine their efforts and the trio rode into Zottegem together.

Kristoff could hardly believe it and lead out the sprint, convinced that he had the speed to win. He did and eventually crossed the line several lengths clear, ahead of a disappointed Lutsenko and Westra.

Wednesday’s 211km second stage is from Zottegem to Koksijde and features the Kemmelberg and several other climbs after 110km of racing before three finishing circuits on the coast in Koksijde.

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