Stybar storms to Eneco Tour victory in Kapelmuur

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Zdenek Stybar (Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team) pulled of a thrilling win to take both the final stage and the overall honours at the Eneco Tour. The Czech rider broke clear of the peloton inside the final 10 kilometres, bridging up to Ian Stannard (Team Sky) before sealing the win on the Kapelmuur. Stannard hung on for second place with Lars Boom (Belkin) finishing in third.

Stybar had started the 208 kilometre final stage 8 seconds down on overnight race leader Tom Dumoulin (Team Argos-Shimano) but his blistering attack was enough to distance the Argos leader and the rest of the peloton. Dumoulin was forced to settle for second overall, with Andriy Grivko (Astana Pro Team) remaining in third.

Stybar’s vicious acceleration on the Denderoordberg was pivotal but it was his teamate Sylvain Chavanel who kicked off the main attacks on the second ascent of the Kapelmuur.

His break with Daniel Oss (BMC) and Wilco Kelderman (Belkin) isolated Dumoulin from his teammates and although Chavanel’s move was nullified, it created the ideal ground on which Stybar could exploit his main rival’s weaknesses.

After yesterday’s gripping action the final stage of the Eneco Tour was always going to be difficult to predict. A number of riders lay in wait should Dumoulin show signs of faltering but with the terrain so undulating there were a number of points where his rivals to could exploit any errors in the young rider’s strategy.

When the early break formed, with Andre Greipel (Lotto), Ian Stannard (Team Sky), Giacomo Nizzolo (RadioShack), Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team), Manuele Boaro (Team Saxo-Tinkoff), Julian Kern (Ag2R La Mondiale), Ruben Perez Moreno (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and Pim Ligthart (Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team) all going clear, Argos looked in control.

The leaders established a gap of over five minutes but with Astana joining Argos on the front of the peloton, Dumoulin could save his efforts for the finale.

The Dutch leaders were extended another favour when Pozzato put his Lampre squad to work too, with the gap to the break tumbling rapidly with 50 kilometres to go. With the gap at just 1:55 Stannard raced clear.

Greipel was the first ride to react, bridging up to the Sky rider as the duo pushed clear of what was left of the break. Ligthart made contact just in the knick of time as Astana revved their engines and looked to isolate Dumoulin in the main field.

After making yesterday’s main break it was little surprise to see Ligthart slip back on the Denderoordberg. Stannard then managed to distance Greipel on the Kapelmuur.

However the action in the peloton began to intensify. Pozzato was the first to play his hand as he bid to pay back his teammates for their earlier efforts. However the Italian was unable to respond as first Sylvain Chavanel (Omega Pharma QuickStep) and then Daniel Oss (BMC) tore past him. That duo were joined by GC threat Wilco Kelderman and over the top of the Kapelmuur the trio, who later picked up Greipel, established a lead of nearly 40 seconds.

Dumoulin didn’t panic. He followed the peloton over the climb and relied on Orica, Astana and RadioShack to pull the move back.

Stannard, meanwhile, continued his solo bid for victory. Over two minutes down on GC he wasn’t a threat to the overall but a final stage win was still to play for as he entered the final 10 kilometres with a minute’s lead.

It was QuickStep who launched Stybar on the Denderoordber and Dumoulin attempted to give chase.

The Czech rider eased clear of the field, catching Stannard before the top of the climb and then establishing a gap of nearly 20 seconds by the foot of the final climb.

Stannard, despite all the work he’d put in, was the first to attack and the move almost caught Stybar napping before the Omega man rounded his rival and soloed clear for both the stage and the overall.

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