Boeckmans wins World Ports Classic overall title

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Kris Boeckmans (Lotto-Soudal) won the crash-marred final stage 2 and the overall title at the World Ports Classic in Rotterdam on Sunday. The Belgian sprinter stormed to the finish line ahead of two Italians Danilo Napolitano (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) and Alessandro Bazzana (UnitedHealthcare) in the bunch sprint. The previous day's stage winner Andrea Guardini (Astana) finished the 35th place on the day, 15 seconds back.

Guardini started the final stage in the overall leader's jersey after winning stage 1, however, Boeckmans victory bumped him up to the top step on the podium in the overall classification upon the conclusion of the two-day race. He won by 11 seconds over both Napolitano in second and Yauheni Hutarovich (Bretagne - Séché Environnement) in third.

"I had a flat tyre in the finale, but could soon take back my place in the front of the bunch," Boeckmans said of the finale. "With four kilometres to go there was a crash and Guardini got held up after he had had a puncture as well. It was over for him. It was only a small group that was in front. Tiesj Benoot, Marcel Sieberg, Jürgen Roelandts and I were in it. Jens Debusschere would have been our sprinter for today, but he had crashed, so it was up to me. The guys did a perfect job. I waited long enough, started sprinting with 150 metres to go and won. I have eight victories at this moment, that's wonderful."

The final stage, 164km from Antwerp to Rotterdam, began with six riders making their way off the front of the field; Pieter Vanspeybrouck (Topsport Claanderen-Baloise), Tim De Troyer (Wanty-Groupe Gobert), Daniele Ratto (UnitedHealthcare), Alex Kirsch (Cult Energy Pro Cycling), Sjoerd Kouwenhoven (Metec - TKH Continental Cyclingteam) and Jetse Bol (Cyclingteam Join's - De Rijke).

However, the move was controlled by the chasing Astana team for their overall race leader Guardini. The Italian had an untimely flat tire with 10km to go, however, and his team stopped their lead-out train in order to help. This allowed other teams with strong sprinters to take control of the front of the peloton.

What was on track to be a standard bunch sprint to the finish line, took on more bad luck, as a crash took place with three kilometres to go after MTN-Qhubeka's Matt Goss collided with the wheel in front of him. 

"The crash today was my fault," Goss said. "I looked back for two seconds to see where my team were and the guys in front me moved across the road at the same point. I clipped the wheel in front of me without even seeing it and I we went down. I am sorry to all the guys that also came down with me and I really hope they are all okay."

A small group managed to get through the crash site and sprint to the finish line, including stage winner Boeckmans, runner-up Napolitano and third placed Bazzana.

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