Van Goolen triumphs in Bagnères de Luchon

Jurgen Van Goolen (Verandas Willems Accent) took a fine solo victory at Bagnères de Luchon while Vasil Kiryienka (Movistar) moved into the overall lead after another tough day in the Pyrenees at the Route du Sud.

Van Goolen was part of an early twelve-man break that formed ahead of the Col de Menté and he showed the greatest staying power to hold on for the win in wet conditions. José Bentiez Roman (Andalucia-Cajasur) led that break over the Col de Menté, where the twelve had a lead of almost 6 minutes over the peloton, but the break split in two on the descent.

At the foot of the climb of the Port du Balès, Jimmy Engoulvent (Saur-Sojasun) decided to go it alone, but Van Goolen was leading the chase behind. The Belgian shed himself of his erstwhile companions to catch and then pass Engoulvent before reaching the fog-shrouded summit alone.

The pace rose in the main peloton on the climb, with Ag2r-La Mondiale particularly active, and the remnants of the break were swallowed up on the approach to the summit. Hubert Dupont led the chasers at the top, while overnight leader Anthony Charteau (Europcar) lost contact and never regained contact with his Kiryienka et al and slipped to 10th overall by the finish.

Van Goolen had 3:30 on the chasers at the summit of the Port du Balès, and although he conceded more ground in the run-in to the finish, he had more than enough in hand to savour his victory.

Peter Kennaugh (Sky) led home the chase group at 1:36, just ahead of Davide Rebellin (Miche-Guerciotti). Kiryienka crossed the line in the same time, and now leads Rebellin by 43 seconds going into the final stage, with Kennaugh a further two seconds back.

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