Double triumph for Gilbert in La Gileppe

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Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) stamped his authority on the Ster ZLM Toer as he powered to victory from a seven-man break and moved into the overall lead with one stage remaining.

Gilbert won the uphill sprint in La Gileppe one second ahead of Niki Terpstra (Quick Step), Ramunas Navardauskas (Garmin-Cervelo) and Joost Van Leijen (Vacansoleil-DCM).

The remainder of the escapees, David Tanner (Saxo Bank Sungard), Matti Helminen (Landbouwkrediet) and Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoleil) were further distanced on the uphill finale and finished 19, 21 and 45 seconds back respectively.

The day's decisive break originally contained eight riders, but Gilbert's teammate Bart De Clerq was dropped on the first of two 16.2km finishing circuits around the reservoir at La Gileppe.

Along with the stage victory, Gilbert took over the race lead from prologue winner Patrick Gretsch (HTC-Highroad) who finished the day in 26th place at 1:27 and drops to ninth overall. Terpstra holds second overall, one second behind Gilbert, with Navardauskas in third overall a further 11 seconds back.

The first break of the day contained Stef Clement (Rabobank), Matti Helminen (Landbouwkrediet), Christoph Pfingsten (Cyclingteam De Rijke), Huub Duyn (Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly) and Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoleil-DCM). The five riders attacked 30km into the 184km stage and reached a maximum advantage of 3:30, but were swept up by the Omega Pharma-Lotto-led peloton after 140km, prior to reaching the finishing circuit.

Soon after their escape ended the winning break formed, with both Helminen and Hoogerland jumping off the front yet again in the company of Gilbert, De Clerq, Terpstra, Tanner and Navardauskas.

Entering the final finishing circuit the break's margin over the peloton reached 2:20 and it became clear the victor would come from the seven escapees.

As he did in his Ardennes Classic sweep earlier in the season, Gilbert dispatched his rivals on the steep run-in to the finish for this 12th win of the season.

Gilbert is one stage away from his second overall victory in three years at the Ster ZLM Toer. The race concludes on Sunday with a 191km stage starting and finishing in Etten-Leur.