Renshaw powers to victory in Eneco Tour opener

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Mark Renshaw (Belkin) attacked just prior to the flamme rouge and soloed to a narrow victory in the opening stage of the Eneco Tour.

The lead-out didn't go quite as expected for Belkin, but the 30-year-old Australian took matters into his own hands in the final 1.5 kilometres and earned his second victory of the year.

"It was a big surprise for me, it wasn't the plan," said Renshaw. "The initial plan was to ride for Theo [Bos]. In the final, he was right on my wheel properly, but with still a long way to go it was just the two of us. He then opened up a small gap, I think on purpose, and that was crucial for me to win. I have to thank Theo for that.

"I'm ecstatic to finally get a victory in a WorldTour race. I really wanted to have a good finish to the year and I'd like to repay the team. I'm happy to take this victory today but tomorrow I imagine we'll be working for Theo Bos."

With the time bonuses factored in Renshaw leads general classification by six seconds over Greipel and seven seconds on Pieter Jacobs (Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise), who picked up bonus seconds while part of the break of the day.

The Eneco Tour kicked off in Belgium with a 175km stage from Koksijde to Ardooie and in the opening kilometres three riders attacked to form the break of the day: Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise teammates Laurens De Vreese and Pieter Jacobs plus Benjamin Verraes (Accent Jobs-Wanty). The trio's maximum advantage topped out at 8:30, but the teams of the sprinters kept them in check and reduced the gap to a very manageable 2:08 at the beginning of the first of two 15km finishing circuits in Ardooie.

FDJ, Omega Pharma-QuickStep, Belkin, Orica-GreenEdge, Argos-Shimano and Lotto Belisol all contributed to the chase effort and by the time the peloton heard the bell for one lap to go the break was in sight, just nine seconds ahead. Moments later their escape came to a conclusion.

Orica-GreenEdge took control of the peloton early on the final lap, stringing out the peloton in single file and creating some gaps in the peloton. Belgian champion Stijn Devolder as well as Bradley Wiggins were among those who found themselves at the wrong side of the split.

At 10km remaining the peloton reached the day's final intermediate sprint with defending Eneco Tour champion Lars Boom (Belkin) coming to the fore to take the three-second time bonus.

The pace momentarily waned, and on the wide roads in the closing kilometres the peloton fanned out across the tarmac. Various lead-out trains began to form at 5km remaining, with Lotto Belisol, FDJ and Belkin lined-up side-by-side.

In the closing kilometres the roads narrowed and just prior to the passing under the flamme rouge at 1 kilometre to go Renshaw jumped ahead through a quick succession of turns, catching the peloton off guard.

Renshaw drove full-gas all the way through to the finish line, holding off the charging field by a couple of seconds.

"I went as fast as I could through the last couple of corners, I took some risks," said Renshaw. "[Assistant sports director] Merijn Zeeman shouted in my ear that I needed to give 100 percent and that’s what I did. I’m pretty good at keeping a high speed over a longer distance. In the last 200 metres I have not looked back once and luckily I saw nobody pass me."

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