Greipel wins Omloop Eurometropool in bunch sprint

André Greipel celebrates his stage victory at the Giro d'Italia.

André Greipel celebrates his stage victory at the Giro d'Italia. (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

Andre Greipel (Lotto Soudal) claimed his first win since stage 2 of the Giro d'Italia on Saturday, sprinting to victory in the inaugural Omloop Eurometropool in Belgium.

Geipel took the win ahead of Bert Van Lerberghe (Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise) and Tom Devriendt (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) on a day when the peloton was loathe to let any groups get more than a minute advantage. The 177km 1.1 race started in Nieuwpoort and finished with three closing laps in Poperinge after a day of racing on relatively flat roads.

"It was a really fast race; the average speed was around 48 kilometres per hour," Greipel said. "It was also very uncontrolled, as we expected it to be, and we sent Tosh Van der Sande up front in the main breakaway."

The initial breakaway of 13 riders took a long time to establish and never gained more than 30 seconds on the field. It was ultimately brought back with 90km remaining, and the race reshuffled again.

Attacks lifted the pace, but nothing of significance could stick until Alexis Gougeard (AG2R) and Brian van Goethem (Roompot-Nederlandse Loterij) sneaked off the front and built a small gap. It was not to be, however, as Lotto Soudal were determined to set up their German sprinter, and they pulled back the move before the race entered Poperinge. Another group of seven tried to get away on the circuits, but Lotto Soudal nullified that move as well.

"We took the control of the peloton with 30km to go, and we made sure the race would end in a bunch sprint," Greipel said. "Tosh [van der Sande], Moreno [Hofland], Jens [Debusschere] and Jasper [de Buyst] led me out perfectly. We stayed calm and we rode strongly in the finale."

The win provides a morale boost for Greipel, who recently won field sprints in the Primus Classic and Omloop van het Houtland Lichtervelde after the winning moves went up the road.

"This victory is a relief for me," Greipel said. "Although I won my two previous sprints, these were not for the win. I always tried to keep calm, but that's not easy when you don't win.

"I felt that the confidence between the team and me was still intact and I was sure that I would eventually get back to winning. I'm really happy with our performance today. There is another opportunity tomorrow, and we have riders, like Jasper De Buyst, who can do well in races like this."

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1André Greipel (Ger) Lotto Soudal3:43:10
2Bert Van Lerberghe (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 1 - Cell 2
3Tom Devriendt (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 2 - Cell 2
4Rudy Barbier (Fra) Ag2R La MondialeRow 3 - Cell 2
5Kristoffer Halvorsen (Nor) Joker IcopalRow 4 - Cell 2
6Baptiste Planckaert (Bel) Team Katusha AlpecinRow 5 - Cell 2
7Andre Looij (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse LoterijRow 6 - Cell 2
8Twan Castelijns (Ned) Team Lotto Nl - JumboRow 7 - Cell 2
9Timothy Dupont (Bel) Veranda's Willems - CrelanRow 8 - Cell 2
10Jérémy Lecroq (Fra) Roubaix - Lille MetropoleRow 9 - Cell 2
11Romain Cardis (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 10 - Cell 2
12Roy Jans (Bel) Wb Veranclassic Aquality ProtectRow 11 - Cell 2
13Ole Forfang (Nor) Joker IcopalRow 12 - Cell 2
14Arthur Baude (Bel) Ago - Aqua ServiceRow 13 - Cell 2
15Yves Lampaert (Bel) Quick - Step FloorsRow 14 - Cell 2
16Dennis Coenen (Bel) Cibel - CebonRow 15 - Cell 2
17Aksel Nõmmela (Est) Leopard Pro CyclingRow 16 - Cell 2
18Iljo Keisse (Bel) Quick - Step FloorsRow 17 - Cell 2
19Coen Vermeltfoort (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse LoterijRow 18 - Cell 2
20Hugo Hofstetter (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 19 - Cell 2
21Maximilien Picoux (Bel) T.Palm Pôle Continental WallonRow 20 - Cell 2
22Emiel Vermeulen (Bel) Roubaix - Lille MetropoleRow 21 - Cell 2
23Joeri Stallaert (Bel) Cibel - CebonRow 22 - Cell 2
24Edward Planckaert (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 23 - Cell 2
25Jarl Salomein (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 24 - Cell 2
26Aaron Gate (NZl) Aqua Blue SportRow 25 - Cell 2
27Robin Stenuit (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 26 - Cell 2
28Jimmy Raibaud (Fra) Armee De TerreRow 27 - Cell 2
29Maxime Vantomme (Bel) Wb Veranclassic Aquality ProtectRow 28 - Cell 2
30Mathias De Witte (Bel) Cibel - CebonRow 29 - Cell 2
31Jonas Van Genechten (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 30 - Cell 2
32Charlie Arimont (Bel) Ago - Aqua ServiceRow 31 - Cell 2
33Daniel Mclay (GBr) Fortuneo - OscaroRow 32 - Cell 2
34Abram Stockman (Bel) Tarteletto - IsorexRow 33 - Cell 2
35Boris Vallee (Bel) Fortuneo - OscaroRow 34 - Cell 2
36Jonas Rickaert (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 35 - Cell 2
37Anthony Debuy (Bel) Ago - Aqua ServiceRow 36 - Cell 2
38Alexander Geuens (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen - Vastgoedservice Continental TeamRow 37 - Cell 2
39Jordan Levasseur (Fra) Armee De TerreRow 38 - Cell 2
40David Boucher (Fra) Pauwels Sauzen - Vastgoedservice Continental TeamRow 39 - Cell 2
41Michiel Stockman (Bel) Tarteletto - IsorexRow 40 - Cell 2
42John Mandrysch (Ger) Leopard Pro CyclingRow 41 - Cell 2
43Andrew Fenn (GBr) Aqua Blue SportRow 42 - Cell 2
44Joeri Calleeuw (Bel) Roubaix - Lille MetropoleRow 43 - Cell 2
45Gijs Van Hoecke (Bel) Team Lotto Nl - JumboRow 44 - Cell 2
46Kevyn Ista (Bel) Wb Veranclassic Aquality ProtectRow 45 - Cell 2
47Marcel Kittel (Ger) Quick - Step FloorsRow 46 - Cell 2
48Floris De Tier (Bel) Team Lotto Nl - JumboRow 47 - Cell 2
49Elmar Reinders (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse LoterijRow 48 - Cell 2
50Maarten Wynants (Bel) Team Lotto Nl - JumboRow 49 - Cell 2
51Markus Hoelgaard (Nor) Joker IcopalRow 50 - Cell 2
52Juan Jose Lobato Del Valle (Spa) Team Lotto Nl - JumboRow 51 - Cell 2
53Florian Senechal (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 52 - Cell 2
54Florian Maitre (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 53 - Cell 2
55Thibault Guernalec (Fra) Fortuneo - OscaroRow 54 - Cell 2
56Gerry Druyts (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen - Vastgoedservice Continental TeamRow 55 - Cell 2
57Jimmy Duquennoy (Bel) Wb Veranclassic Aquality ProtectRow 56 - Cell 2
58Bjørn Tore Hoem (Nor) Joker IcopalRow 57 - Cell 2
59Edward Walsh (Can) T.Palm Pôle Continental WallonRow 58 - Cell 2
60Szymon Rekita (Pol) Leopard Pro CyclingRow 59 - Cell 2
61Angelo Tulik (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 60 - Cell 2
62Antwan Tolhoek (Ned) Team Lotto Nl - JumboRow 61 - Cell 2
63Robin Haubruge (Bel) T.Palm Pôle Continental WallonRow 62 - Cell 2
64Jasper De Buyst (Bel) Lotto Soudal0:00:07
65Christophe Noppe (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - Baloise0:00:09
66Jan Brockhoff (Ger) Leopard Pro Cycling0:00:11
67Nicolas Vereecken (Bel) Roubaix - Lille MetropoleRow 66 - Cell 2
68Maurits Lammertink (Ned) Team Katusha AlpecinRow 67 - Cell 2
69Marco Mathis (Ger) Team Katusha AlpecinRow 68 - Cell 2
70Moreno Hofland (Ned) Lotto SoudalRow 69 - Cell 2
71Mark Mcnally (GBr) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 70 - Cell 2
72Frederik Veuchelen (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 71 - Cell 2
73Norman Vahtra (Est) Ago - Aqua ServiceRow 72 - Cell 2
74Alexey Vermeulen (USA) Team Lotto Nl - JumboRow 73 - Cell 2
75Dries Devenyns (Bel) Quick - Step FloorsRow 74 - Cell 2
76Kevin Verwaest (Bel) Tarteletto - IsorexRow 75 - Cell 2
77Niels De Rooze (Bel) Tarteletto - IsorexRow 76 - Cell 2
78Guillaume Haag (Bel) T.Palm Pôle Continental WallonRow 77 - Cell 2
79Lukas Spengler (Swi) Wb Veranclassic Aquality ProtectRow 78 - Cell 2
80Michaël Van Staeyen (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 79 - Cell 2
81Gordon De Winter (Bel) Ago - Aqua ServiceRow 80 - Cell 2
82Jens Debusschere (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 81 - Cell 2
83Carl Fredrik Hagen (Nor) Joker IcopalRow 82 - Cell 2
84Jerome Mainard (Fra) Armee De TerreRow 83 - Cell 2
85Julien Duval (Fra) Ag2R La MondialeRow 84 - Cell 2
86Brent Van De Kerkhove (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen - Vastgoedservice Continental TeamRow 85 - Cell 2
87Brecht Dhaene (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen - Vastgoedservice Continental TeamRow 86 - Cell 2
88Bastien Duculty (Fra) Armee De TerreRow 87 - Cell 2
89Andrew Leigh (GBr) Tarteletto - Isorex0:00:24
90Viacheslav Kuznetsov (Rus) Team Katusha AlpecinRow 89 - Cell 2
91Brian Van Goethem (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse LoterijRow 90 - Cell 2
92Piotr Havik (Ned) Team Katusha AlpecinRow 91 - Cell 2
93Michael Goolaerts (Bel) Veranda's Willems - CrelanRow 92 - Cell 2
94Stéphane Poulhies (Fra) Armee De TerreRow 93 - Cell 2
95Lander Seynaeve (Bel) Roubaix - Lille MetropoleRow 94 - Cell 2
96Adrien Petit (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 95 - Cell 2
97Alexandre Pichot (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 96 - Cell 2
98Max Emil Boholm Kørner (Nor) T.Palm Pôle Continental WallonRow 97 - Cell 2
99Wesley Kreder (Ned) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 98 - Cell 2
100Kevin De Jonghe (Bel) Cibel - CebonRow 99 - Cell 2
101Kenny Molly (Bel) Ago - Aqua ServiceRow 100 - Cell 2
102Nico Denz (Ger) Ag2R La MondialeRow 101 - Cell 2
103Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel) Ag2R La MondialeRow 102 - Cell 2
104Paul Ourselin (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 103 - Cell 2
105Pieter Vanspeybrouck (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 104 - Cell 2
106Frederik Backaert (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 105 - Cell 2
107Calvin Watson (Aus) Aqua Blue SportRow 106 - Cell 2
108Matthew Brammeier (Irl) Aqua Blue SportRow 107 - Cell 2
109Tim Declercq (Bel) Quick - Step FloorsRow 108 - Cell 2
110Victor Campenaerts (Bel) Team Lotto Nl - JumboRow 109 - Cell 2
111Jonathan Breyne (Bel) Tarteletto - IsorexRow 110 - Cell 2
112Preben Van Hecke (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 111 - Cell 2
113Gaëtan Pons (Lux) Leopard Pro CyclingRow 112 - Cell 2
114Berden De Vries (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse LoterijRow 113 - Cell 2
115Dimitri Claeys (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 114 - Cell 2
116Oliver Naesen (Bel) Ag2R La MondialeRow 115 - Cell 2
117Steven Tronet (Fra) Armee De TerreRow 116 - Cell 2
118Yann Guyot (Fra) Armee De TerreRow 117 - Cell 2
119Elias Van Breussegem (Bel) Veranda's Willems - CrelanRow 118 - Cell 2
120Aime De Gendt (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 119 - Cell 2
121Lennert Teugels (Bel) Veranda's Willems - CrelanRow 120 - Cell 2
122Tim Ariesen (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse LoterijRow 121 - Cell 2
123Aidis Kruopis (Ltu) Veranda's Willems - CrelanRow 122 - Cell 2
124Stijn Devolder (Bel) Veranda's Willems - Crelan0:00:37
125Yohann Gene (Fra) Direct Energie0:00:39
126Carmelo Foti (Ita) Leopard Pro Cycling0:00:42
127Jhonatan Restrepo Valencia (Col) Team Katusha AlpecinRow 126 - Cell 2
128Alex Kirsch (Lux) Wb Veranclassic Aquality ProtectRow 127 - Cell 2
129Lionel Taminiaux (Bel) Ago - Aqua ServiceRow 128 - Cell 2
130Enzo Wouters (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 129 - Cell 2
131Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 130 - Cell 2
132Tosh Van Der Sande (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 131 - Cell 2
133Anthony Turgis (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 132 - Cell 2
134Antoine Loy (Bel) Ago - Aqua ServiceRow 133 - Cell 2
135Jesper Asselman (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse LoterijRow 134 - Cell 2
136Arnold Jeannesson (Fra) Fortuneo - OscaroRow 135 - Cell 2
137Merlijn Decoster (Bel) T.Palm Pôle Continental WallonRow 136 - Cell 2
138Brecht Ruyters (Bel) Cibel - CebonRow 137 - Cell 2
139Thomas Joly (Fra) Roubaix - Lille MetropoleRow 138 - Cell 2
140Michiel Dieleman (Bel) Cibel - CebonRow 139 - Cell 2
141Martin Palm (Bel) Ago - Aqua ServiceRow 140 - Cell 2
142Kevin Lebreton (Fra) Armee De TerreRow 141 - Cell 2
143Lawrence Naesen (Bel) Wb Veranclassic Aquality ProtectRow 142 - Cell 2
144Alexis Gougeard (Fra) Ag2R La MondialeRow 143 - Cell 2
145Mark Christian (GBr) Aqua Blue SportRow 144 - Cell 2
146Timothy Stevens (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen - Vastgoedservice Continental TeamRow 145 - Cell 2
147Iver Johan Knotten (Nor) Joker IcopalRow 146 - Cell 2
148Lasse Norman Hansen (Den) Aqua Blue SportRow 147 - Cell 2
149Jimmy Janssens (Bel) Cibel - CebonRow 148 - Cell 2
150Rasmus Fossum Tiller (Nor) Joker IcopalRow 149 - Cell 2
151Kenneth Vanbilsen (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions Credits0:00:53
152Jenthe Biermans (Bel) Team Katusha Alpecin0:01:16
153Jonas Goeman (Bel) Tarteletto - Isorex0:01:23
154Dries De Bondt (Bel) Veranda's Willems - Crelan0:02:20
155Tom Wirtgen (Lux) Leopard Pro Cycling0:02:56
156Ángel Vicioso Arcos (Spa) Team Katusha Alpecin0:03:18
157Pieter Serry (Bel) Quick - Step FloorsRow 156 - Cell 2
158Sjoerd Van Ginneken (Ned) Roompot - Nederlandse Loterij0:04:02
159Martin Velits (Svk) Quick - Step FloorsRow 158 - Cell 2
160Alan Riou (Fra) Fortuneo - OscaroRow 159 - Cell 2
161Auxence Buntinx (Bel) T.Palm Pôle Continental WallonRow 160 - Cell 2
DNFPiet Allegaert (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 161 - Cell 2
DNFLars Petter Nordhaug (Nor) Aqua Blue SportRow 162 - Cell 2
DNFDaniel Pearson (GBr) Aqua Blue SportRow 163 - Cell 2
DNFRob Ruijgh (Ned) Tarteletto - IsorexRow 164 - Cell 2
DNFWilliam Elliott (Can) T.Palm Pôle Continental WallonRow 165 - Cell 2
DNFPierre Goebeert (Bel) Ago - Aqua ServiceRow 166 - Cell 2
DNFSander Cordeel (Bel) Veranda's Willems - CrelanRow 167 - Cell 2
DNFLaurent Vanden Bak (Bel) Leopard Pro CyclingRow 168 - Cell 2
DNFClement Orceau (Fra) Direct EnergieRow 169 - Cell 2
DNFJordi Van Dingenen (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen - Vastgoedservice Continental TeamRow 170 - Cell 2
DNFRobby Cobbaert (Bel) Cibel - CebonRow 171 - Cell 2
DNFSean De Bie (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 172 - Cell 2
DNSDieter Bouvry (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen - Vastgoedservice Continental TeamRow 173 - Cell 2
DNSPrzemyslaw Kasperkiewicz (Pol) An Post Chain ReactionRow 174 - Cell 2
DNSLouis Verhelst (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen - Vastgoedservice Continental TeamRow 175 - Cell 2

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