Galimzyanov prevails in Koksijde

Image 1 of 40

Denis Galimzyanov (Katusha) took the first victory of his professional career by unleashing a ferocious finishing sprint in Koksijde on day two of the Three Days of De Panne. The young Russian saw off the challenge of John Degenkolb (HTC-Highroad) and Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale) in the bunch sprint, while Lieuwe Westra (Vacansoleil-DCM) moved into the overall lead.

Overnight leader André Greipel (Omega Pharma-Lotto) conceded over five minutes and lost his white jersey, while Bradley Wiggins (Sky) also bade his overall aspirations goodbye by rolling in shortly afterwards, on a stage that saw the wind wreak havoc on the peloton. The race had already been broken up on the series of cobbled climbs around the halfway mark, and the flat, exposed approach to the coastal finish made closing gaps a tall order.

A group of 64 riders ultimately disputed the sprint on the circuit in Koksijde, after Jimmy Engoulvent (Saur-Sojasun), Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Quick Step) and Arnoud Van Groen (Veranda's Willems – Accent) were swept up in the closing kilometres. The trio had broken clear 52km from home, but had never succeeded in stretching their lead beyond a minute, and although Van Groen made a solo bid in the finale, he was caught coming underneath the red kite.

HTC-Highroad had done the lion’s share of the pursuing over the final 30km, as they sought to set up Mark Renshaw for the sprint, but the unfortunate Australian lost his position in the finale and sat up. It was instead left to John Degenkolb to fly the flag for his team, but in a frenetic finish he was beaten by the flying Galimzyanov, while Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale) had to settle for third.

Galimzyanov credited his victory to following the right wheel in the closing stages, as he avoided the headwind for as long as possible, before coming around fourth-placed Tomas Vaitkus (Astana) when he launched his sprint.

“In the final kilometres of the race, I took Vaitkus’ wheel,” he said. “I knew he was in form but I also know that I’m better than him in the sprint. Unfortunately for him, he launched his sprint from too far out. The last few metres were tough because of the wind, but I adopted the right strategy I think.”

New white jersey Lieuwe Westra took a two-second time bonus at the first sprint to move level on time with Bert De Backer (Skil-Shimano), and leads overall thanks to his superior points tally. With Bradley Wiggins eliminated from the overall running, he is optimistic about his chances of holding on in tomorrow’s split stage, although he is aware that a number of other solid time triallists lie within 8 seconds of his lead.

“My biggest competitor for the win was Bradley Wiggins,” Westra said. “My chances of victory have risen today, but I won’t get ahead of myself: all I’ve taken today is the white jersey.”

Hellingen and wind eliminate Greipel and Wiggins

The peloton set out from Oudenaarde under overcast skies without Leif Hoste (Katusha), who fell and abandoned on the opening stage. Not surprisingly, the peloton stayed together until the day’s first climb, the Tiegemberg (20km), where Howard Leigh (HTC-Highroad), Rony Martias (Saur-Sojasun), Mickaël Delage (FDJ), Mikhail Ignatiev (Katusha) and Steven Caethoven (Veranda’s Willems) forged clear, with Bobbie Traksel (Vacansoleil-DCM) later attempting and failing to bridge the gap himself.

After an opening two hours run off at a speed of 40kph, the quintet had 5:33 on the peloton as they approached the series of hellingen that marked the middle section of the stage before it headed towards the North Sea coast. Their lead was halved after the climb of the Mesenberg, and by the Kemmelberg (110km), that gap was reduced further to 30 seconds.

Meanwhile, the peloton itself split in three after the Kemmelberg, with the five in front being absorbed to form a leading group of 22. As the race headed towards the coast, the wind broke the bunch further, with Bradley Wiggins (Sky), Gert Steegmans (Quick Step) and race leader André Greipel (Omega Pharma-Lotto) among those caught behind. Stijn Devolder also lost ground when he crashed, but up ahead his Vacansoleil-DCM teammate Lieuwe Westra was taking advantage of Greipel’s absence from the front to move closer to the overall lead, and for good measure he pegged back two seconds in the bonus sprint with 60km to go.

Although the front group swelled to 50 riders soon afterwards, both Greipel and Wiggins failed to make it back on, as the gaps began to open out. They were not the only riders to miss out. Alessandro Ballan (BMC) and Filippo Pozzato (Katusha) each lost over twelve minutes, finishing in the Devolder group.

Meanwhile, at the head of the bunch Guillaume Van Keirsbuik, Jimmy Engoulvent and Arnoud Van Groen zipped off the front ahead of the finale, and quickly opened out a 45-second lead. However, with HTC-Highroad soon taking charge of matters for Mark Renshaw at the head of the chasing group, they faced a tough task to make it to the finish and survive, and in the end it all came down to the bunch sprint.

In the end it was Galimzyanov who proved to be the quickest, seeing off Degenkolb and Sagan, and after near misses at the Tour of Oman and Paris-Nice already this year, the young Russian deservedly opened his professional account. An outsider for much of the season to date, Galimzyanov announced his arrival in Koksijde.