Andre Greipel wins the first stage of 2011 Tour of Belgium: Cycling News
Omega Pharma-Lotto team’s Andre Greipel won the first stage and also took overall lead in 2011 Tour of Belgium on Thursday, May 26.
The race started in Lochristi and ended at Knokke. The 28-year-old, Greipel covered the distance of 162.5 kilometres in 3 hours, 38 minutes and 14 seconds.
After winning the stage Andre told the media, "In the last kilometer on the coast it felt like the wind came from everywhere - there was no slipstream at all. I think everybody was full gas in the last 600m, I could have a little bit power left and could
finish it off. I'm really happy with the team and with me."
The 23 cyclists crossed the finish line with the same timing of Andre. Kenny Robert of Skil-Shimano was the runner-up, while Maxime Vantomme of Katusha was in third place.
Niko Eeckhout of An Post-Sean Kelly led the first attack in the race, but with the high speed, the break-away couldn’t establish.
The group of five riders stay away, including Kurt Hovelynck of Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly, Steven Van Vooren of Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator, Kenny Terweduwe of An Post - Sean Kelly, Tom Meeusen of Telenet-Fidea and Frederic Amorison of Landbouwkrediet.
All of them built an advantage of six minutes, but due to the wind change the gap was reduced. The cyclists seized by the small group including Philippe Gilbert, Tom Boonen and Bjorn Leukemans. However, Boonen faced bad luck and fell behind.
Gilbert made a good effort and with the help of him, Boonen was able to reconnect. In the final circuit, Greg Van Avermaet made several attacks, but Andre had good legs and crossed the finish-line ahead of the other cyclist.
Andre Greipel also took overall lead with the timing of 3 hours, 44 minutes and 49 seconds. His team-mate, Philippe Gilbert was runner-up with 2 seconds behind Andre. Dominique Cornu of the Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator team finished third with the difference
of 3 minutes.
The next stage will start in Knokke-Heist and all the riders will cover the distance of 187.8 kilometres.
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