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4th Eneco Tour - ProT

Netherlands and Belgium, August 20-27, 2008

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Stage 7 - August 27 : Mechelen (B), 18.8km

'Guti' shoots to second consecutive Eneco Tour

By Susan Westemeyer

Raivis Belohvosciks (Scott - American Beef)
Photo ©: AFP
(Click for larger image)

Raivis Belohvosciks of Team Scott-American Beef won the closing time trial of the Eneco Tour, setting an early best time of 22.04 for the 18.8 km course, but the real drama of the day was the question of who would take the overall win. Team Columbia's André Greipel may have gone into the final time trial as the overall leader, but his eleven second margin over last year's winner José Iván Gutierrez (Caisse d'Epargne) proved to be far too small to hold off the Spaniard at the end of the day.

Gutierrez, who placed second in the time trial behind the Latvian, Belohvosciks, put 25 seconds into the German over the 18.8 kilometre course, despite a last-kilometre mechanical, to secure his second consecutive overall victory in the Eneco Tour.

Sébastien Rosseler (Quick Step) and former world time trial champion Michael Rogers were within fractions of a second of Gutierrez on the stage, placing third and fourth respectively. Belgian time trial champion Stijn Devolder was fifth.

Gutierrez was please to take the win on the final stage. "I said the very first day the final time trial would decide everything and it has been the case", he said. "In such a race, all flat and where the wind can be very important and make that you lose plenty of time, you have to be very attentive every day. It is always the same in the Belgian races and that is exactly what happened yesterday."

The Spaniard was fortunate enough to make a 40-man front group on stage five which put paid to the GC hopes of Team Columbia's Edvald Boasson Hagen, who would have arguably been a greater time trial threat than his team-mate Greipel. The young Norwegian was just eleven seconds behind Gutierrez on the final stage.

"Fortunately I was in at the front when the bunch split and I finished the stage with the very first riders," Gutierrez recalled of Monday's stage. "I want to thank my team-mates of the team Caisse d'Epargne for the great job they achieved for me every day, chasing behind all the breaks, because without their help I would not be the winner today. After the prologue I felt better and better and today I felt very well. It was not enough to win the stage but it was to win the final classification and that is the most important thing. Moreover I really liked the course: short and fast. Perfect for me!"

How it unfolded

The final overall podium:
Photo ©: Isabelle Duchesne
(Click for larger image)

Denis Flahaut of Team Scott-American Beef was the first to go down the start ramp, promptly at 13:30. The riders went off at intervals of one and a half minutes, until the final ten, who had two minutes between them. Bert Roesems of Silence-Lotto was the first to break the 23 minute mark on the 18.8 km course, setting a best time of 22.52. But this was soon blasted by Belohvosciks, with a time of 22.04.

Edvald Boasson Hagen of Columbia set a new best time at the intermediate time check, and it looked like he would take the best time at the end, too, but he lost a lot of time in the second half and crossed the finish line with a time of 22.21. The young Norwegian had been the first to go through the intermediate check under 10 minutes (9.58).

The Latvian's time held up, with Gutierrez, Rosseler and Rogers coming only within eight seconds of his time. Gutierrez was second overall going into the stage, 11 seconds behind Greipel, and it was clear that he would out-do the German. He looked a shoo-in for the win until he lost his saddle on the cobblestones in the last kilometer, requiring him to finish the race standing on his pedals. However, he still finished fast enough to hold off all other challengers.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by AFP Photo

Images by Isabelle Duchesne/www.photoscycling.com

Results

1 Raivis Belohvosciks (Lat) Scott - American Beef                   22.02 (49,833 km/h)
2 José Iván Gutierrez Palacios (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne                0.08
3 Sébastien Rosseler (Bel) Quick Step                                    
4 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia                                     
5 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Quick Step                                    0.10
6 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Team Columbia                           0.19
7 Servais Knaven (Ned) Team Columbia                                 0.21
8 Rein Taaramae (Est) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone              0.28
9 André Greipel (Ger) Team Columbia                                  0.33
10 Rubens Bertogliati (Swi) Scott - American Beef                    0.35
11 Joost Posthuma (Ned) Rabobank                                     0.37
12 Thomas Frei (Swi) Astana                                          0.45
13 Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne                      0.47
14 Matthew Goss (Aus) Team CSC - Saxo Bank                           0.48
15 Bert Roesems (Bel) Silence - Lotto                                0.50
16 Bram Tankink (Ned) Rabobank                                       0.51
17 Sergei Ivanov (Rus) Astana                                        0.55
18 Piet Rooijakkers (Ned) Skil-Shimano                               0.57
19 Jesús Del Nero (Spa) Scott - American Beef                        0.58
20 Florent Brard (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone             0.59
21 Sébastien Turgot (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                           1.00
22 Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) Rabobank                                1.01
23 Jürgen Roelandts (Bel) Silence - Lotto                                
24 Sven Krauss (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                    1.02
25 Maciej Bodnar (Pol) Liquigas                                      1.03
26 Jérôme Coppel (Fra) Française des Jeux                            1.09
27 Aitor Hernandez Gutierrez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi               1.10
28 Frederik Willems (Bel) Liquigas                                   1.12
29 Benoît Joachim (Lux) Astana                                           
30 Laurent Mangel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale                             1.15
31 Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Team CSC - Saxo Bank                        1.16
32 Christophe Edaleine (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale                            
33 Marco Velo (Ita) Team Milram                                      1.17
34 Leif Hoste (Bel) Silence - Lotto                                  1.18
35 Damien Monier (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone             1.19
36 Wilfried Cretskens (Bel) Quick Step                               1.20
37 Koen De Kort (Ned) Astana                                             
38 Gert Steegmans (Bel) Quick Step                                       
39 Roger Hammond (GBr) Team Columbia                                 1.21
40 Tom Veelers (Ned) Skil-Shimano                                    1.22
41 Marlon Alirio Perez Arango (Col) Caisse d'Epargne                     
42 Elia Rigotto (Ita) Team Milram                                    1.24
43 Borut Bozic (Slo) Cycle Collstrop                                 1.25
44 Carlo Westphal (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                 1.26
45 John Devine (USA) Team Columbia                                   1.27
46 Markus Eichler (Ger) Team Milram                                      
47 Timothy Gudsell (NZl) Française des Jeux                          1.30
48 David Kopp (Ger) Cycle Collstrop                                  1.31
49 Andreas Klier (Ger) Team Columbia                                 1.32
50 Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel) AG2R La Mondiale                              
51 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Crédit Agricole                               1.36
52 Berik Kupeshov (Kaz) Astana                                           
53 Maarten Wynants (Bel) Quick Step                                  1.37
54 Aaron Kemps (Aus) Astana                                              
55 Francis De Greef (Bel) Silence - Lotto                            1.40
56 Francisco Perez Sanchez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne                        
57 Mauro Da Dalto (Ita) Liquigas                                     1.41
58 Angelo Furlan (Ita) Crédit Agricole                               1.43
59 Bram De Groot (Ned) Rabobank                                          
60 Gerben Löwik (Ned) Rabobank                                       1.46
61 Josu Agirre Aseginolaza (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi                 1.47
62 Luca Barla (Ita) Team Milram                                      1.48
63 Julien Simon (Fra) Crédit Agricole                                1.50
64 Tom Leezer (Ned) Rabobank                                             
65 Marco Marcato (Ita) Cycle Collstrop                               1.51
66 Romain Villa (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone              1.52
67 Gorka Verdugo Markotegi (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi                 1.54
68 Mathew Hayman (Aus) Rabobank                                      1.55
69 Kenny Robert Van Hummel (Ned) Skil-Shimano                            
70 Yoann Offredo (Fra) Française des Jeux                                
71 Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Crédit Agricole                            1.56
72 David Deroo (Fra) Skil-Shimano                                    1.58
73 Mirko Selvaggi (Ita) Cycle Collstrop                                  
74 Steven De Jongh (Ned) Quick Step                                      
75 Michal Golas (Pol) Cycle Collstrop                                1.59
76 Beñat Albizuri Aransolo (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi                     
77 Nicolas Portal (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne                             2.01
78 Alexandre Blain (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone           2.02
79 Cédric Pineau (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale                                  
80 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone           2.03
81 Ermanno Capelli (Ita) Scott - American Beef                       2.07
82 Arnaud Coyot (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne                                   
83 Francisco Javier Aramendia (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi                  
84 Geert Steurs (Bel) Silence - Lotto                                2.08
85 Daniele Righi (Ita) Lampre                                        2.09
86 Matthé Pronk (Ned) Cycle Collstrop                                2.10
87 Kevin Hulsmans (Bel) Quick Step                                   2.12
88 Kasper Klostergaard Larsen (Den) Team CSC - Saxo Bank                 
89 Anders Lund (Den) Team CSC - Saxo Bank                            2.16
90 Jean-Charles Senac (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale                         2.17
91 Sergey Rudaskov (Rus) Cycle Collstrop                                 
92 Frank Hoj (Den) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone                 2.18
93 Robert Wagner (Ger) Skil-Shimano                                  2.19
94 Floris Goesinnen (Ned) Skil-Shimano                               2.22
95 Wim De Vocht (Bel) Silence - Lotto                                2.23
96 Andoni Lafuente Olaguibel (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi                   
97 Luciano André Pagliarini Mendonca (Bra) Scott - American Beef     2.26
98 Mathieu Claude (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                             2.30
99 Franck Rénier (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                              2.37
100 Alberto Curtolo (Ita) Liquigas                                   2.38
101 Roy Curvers (Ned) Skil-Shimano                                   2.49
102 Andrea Grendene (Ita) Lampre                                     2.51
103 Enrico Poitschke (Ger) Team Milram                               2.55
104 Yohann Gène (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                               2.57
105 Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Liquigas                                 3.04
106 Matteo Bono (Ita) Lampre                                         3.09
107 Yauheni Hutarovich (Blr) Française des Jeux                      3.18
108 Raul Alarcon Garcia (Spa) Scott - American Beef                  3.22
109 Denis Flahaut (Fra) Scott - American Beef                        3.34
 
Teams
 
1 Team Columbia                                                   1.06.54
2 Scott - American Beef                                              0.45
3 Quick Step                                                         0.50
4 Caisse d`Épargne                                                   1.29
5 Rabobank                                                           1.41
6 Cofidis, le Crédit par Téléphone                                   1.58
7 Astana                                                             2.04
8 Silence - Lotto                                                    2.21
9 Liquigas                                                           3.08
10 AG2R La Mondiale                                                  3.15
11 Team Milram                                                       3.20
12 Skil - Shimano                                                    3.26
13 Team CSC Saxo Bank                                                3.28
14 Française des Jeux                                                3.46
15 Cycle - Collstrop                                                 3.59
16 Euskaltel - Eusdaki                                               4.03
17 Crédit Agricole                                                   4.21
18 Bouygues Telecom                                                  5.19
19 Lampre                                                            7.21
 
Final general classification
 
1 José Iván Gutierrez Palacios (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne            26.27.07
2 Sébastien Rosseler (Bel) Quick Step                                0.04
3 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia                                 0.07
4 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Quick Step                                    0.13
5 André Greipel (Ger) Team Columbia                                  0.14
6 Joost Posthuma (Ned) Rabobank                                      0.39
7 Servais Knaven (Ned) Team Columbia                                 0.48
8 Bram Tankink (Ned) Rabobank                                        0.51
9 Jürgen Roelandts (Bel) Silence - Lotto                             0.54
10 Piet Rooijakkers (Ned) Skil-Shimano                               1.02
11 Sergei Ivanov (Rus) Astana                                        1.07
12 Koen De Kort (Ned) Astana                                         1.19
13 Frederik Willems (Bel) Liquigas                                   1.22
14 Sébastien Turgot (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                           1.25
15 Laurent Mangel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale                             1.27
16 Borut Bozic (Slo) Cycle Collstrop                                 1.30
17 Wilfried Cretskens (Bel) Quick Step                               1.33
18 Marco Velo (Ita) Team Milram                                          
19 Carlo Westphal (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                 1.34
20 Roger Hammond (GBr) Team Columbia                                 1.48
21 Gert Steegmans (Bel) Quick Step                                   1.52
22 Andreas Klier (Ger) Team Columbia                                 1.57
23 Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel) AG2R La Mondiale                          2.01
24 Mathew Hayman (Aus) Rabobank                                      2.10
25 Steven De Jongh (Ned) Quick Step                                      
26 Tom Leezer (Ned) Rabobank                                         2.21
27 Marco Marcato (Ita) Cycle Collstrop                               2.27
28 David Kopp (Ger) Cycle Collstrop                                  3.11
29 Anders Lund (Den) Team CSC - Saxo Bank                            3.12
30 Daniele Righi (Ita) Lampre                                        4.01
31 Kevin Hulsmans (Bel) Quick Step                                   4.44
32 Maarten Wynants (Bel) Quick Step                                  5.16
33 Roy Curvers (Ned) Skil-Shimano                                    5.41
34 Yauheni Hutarovich (Blr) Française des Jeux                       5.45
35 Maciej Bodnar (Pol) Liquigas                                      8.26
36 Robert Wagner (Ger) Skil-Shimano                                  8.34
37 Benoît Joachim (Lux) Astana                                      13.57
38 Angelo Furlan (Ita) Crédit Agricole                              14.02
39 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Team Columbia                         14.38
40 Leif Hoste (Bel) Silence - Lotto                                 15.09
41 Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne                     15.45
42 Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) Rabobank                               16.07
43 Marlon Alirio Perez Arango (Col) Caisse d'Epargne                16.08
44 Elia Rigotto (Ita) Team Milram                                   16.28
45 John Devine (USA) Team Columbia                                       
46 Aaron Kemps (Aus) Astana                                         16.31
47 Mauro Da Dalto (Ita) Liquigas                                         
48 Francisco Perez Sanchez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne                   16.40
49 Kenny Robert Van Hummel (Ned) Skil-Shimano                       16.46
50 Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Team CSC - Saxo Bank                       16.49
51 Aitor Hernandez Gutierrez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi                   
52 Michal Golas (Pol) Cycle Collstrop                               16.54
53 Yoann Offredo (Fra) Française des Jeux                           17.00
54 Mirko Selvaggi (Ita) Cycle Collstrop                             17.08
55 Ermanno Capelli (Ita) Scott - American Beef                      17.12
56 Nicolas Portal (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne                            17.15
57 Arnaud Coyot (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne                              17.26
58 Wim De Vocht (Bel) Silence - Lotto                               17.36
59 Geert Steurs (Bel) Silence - Lotto                               17.40
60 Mathieu Claude (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                            17.42
61 Rein Taaramae (Est) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone            17.45
62 Sven Krauss (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                   17.47
63 Thomas Frei (Swi) Astana                                              
64 Rubens Bertogliati (Swi) Scott - American Beef                   17.53
65 Matthew Goss (Aus) Team CSC - Saxo Bank                          18.11
66 Franck Rénier (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                  
67 Yohann Gène (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                               18.24
68 Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Liquigas                                 18.25
69 Christophe Edaleine (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale                       18.29
70 Matthé Pronk (Ned) Cycle Collstrop                               18.34
71 David Deroo (Fra) Skil-Shimano                                   19.03
72 Raivis Belohvosciks (Lat) Scott - American Beef                  19.04
73 Floris Goesinnen (Ned) Skil-Shimano                              19.21
74 Luciano André Pagliarini Mendonca (Bra) Scott - American Beef    19.48
75 Timothy Gudsell (NZl) Française des Jeux                         20.47
76 Tom Veelers (Ned) Skil-Shimano                                   24.02
77 Gerben Löwik (Ned) Rabobank                                      24.45
78 Kasper Klostergaard Larsen (Den) Team CSC - Saxo Bank            25.20
79 Alberto Curtolo (Ita) Liquigas                                   25.51
80 Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Crédit Agricole                           26.25
81 Cédric Pineau (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale                             27.05
82 Jérôme Coppel (Fra) Française des Jeux                           28.09
83 Jesús Del Nero (Spa) Scott - American Beef                       28.16
84 Bert Roesems (Bel) Silence - Lotto                                    
85 Markus Eichler (Ger) Team Milram                                 28.31
86 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Crédit Agricole                              28.40
87 Francis De Greef (Bel) Silence - Lotto                           28.50
88 Alexandre Blain (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone          28.55
89 Francisco Javier Aramendia (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi             29.11
90 Gorka Verdugo Markotegi (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi                29.23
91 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone          29.30
92 Berik Kupeshov (Kaz) Astana                                           
93 Bram De Groot (Ned) Rabobank                                     29.34
94 Enrico Poitschke (Ger) Team Milram                               30.05
95 Frank Hoj (Den) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone                30.25
96 Romain Villa (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone             31.06
97 Luca Barla (Ita) Team Milram                                     31.07
98 Sergey Rudaskov (Rus) Cycle Collstrop                                 
99 Matteo Bono (Ita) Lampre                                         31.09
100 Florent Brard (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone           31.10
101 Raul Alarcon Garcia (Spa) Scott - American Beef                 33.47
102 Jean-Charles Senac (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale                       35.31
103 Andrea Grendene (Ita) Lampre                                    35.33
104 Damien Monier (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone           36.26
105 Julien Simon (Fra) Crédit Agricole                              36.36
106 Josu Agirre Aseginolaza (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi               36.43
107 Beñat Albizuri Aransolo (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi               36.53
108 Andoni Lafuente Olaguibel (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi             37.33
109 Denis Flahaut (Fra) Scott - American Beef                       43.50
 
Points classification
 
1 Jürgen Roelandts (Bel) Silence - Lotto                              113 pts
2 André Greipel (Ger) Team Columbia                                   105
3 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Team Columbia                            104
4 Kenny Robert Van Hummel (Ned) Skil-Shimano                           85
5 Borut Bozic (Slo) Cycle Collstrop                                    58
6 Elia Rigotto (Ita) Team Milram                                       47
7 Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Liquigas                                     37
8 Bram Tankink (Ned) Rabobank                                          32
9 Carlo Westphal (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                    30
10 Tom Leezer (Ned) Rabobank                                           26
11 Yauheni Hutarovich (Blr) Française des Jeux                         25
12 Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Crédit Agricole                              25
13 David Kopp (Ger) Cycle Collstrop                                    23
14 Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Team CSC - Saxo Bank                          23
15 Sergei Ivanov (Rus) Astana                                          22
16 Roger Hammond (GBr) Team Columbia                                   21
17 Matthé Pronk (Ned) Cycle Collstrop                                  18
18 Floris Goesinnen (Ned) Skil-Shimano                                 18
19 Ermanno Capelli (Ita) Scott - American Beef                         16
20 Gert Steegmans (Bel) Quick Step                                     15
21 Sébastien Turgot (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                             13
22 Maciej Bodnar (Pol) Liquigas                                        13
23 Angelo Furlan (Ita) Crédit Agricole                                 13
24 Alberto Curtolo (Ita) Liquigas                                      13
25 Raul Alarcon Garcia (Spa) Scott - American Beef                     13
26 Mathew Hayman (Aus) Rabobank                                        12
27 Matthew Goss (Aus) Team CSC - Saxo Bank                             12
28 Anders Lund (Den) Team CSC - Saxo Bank                              11
29 Frank Hoj (Den) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone                   11
30 Robert Wagner (Ger) Skil-Shimano                                    10
31 José Iván Gutierrez Palacios (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne                  9
32 Laurent Mangel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale                                8
33 Maarten Wynants (Bel) Quick Step                                     8
34 Bram De Groot (Ned) Rabobank                                         8
35 Sébastien Rosseler (Bel) Quick Step                                  6
36 Francisco Javier Aramendia (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi                 6
37 Frederik Willems (Bel) Liquigas                                      5
38 Marco Marcato (Ita) Cycle Collstrop                                  5
39 Aitor Hernandez Gutierrez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi                  3
 
Mountains classification
 
1 Floris Goesinnen (Ned) Skil-Shimano                                  30 pts
2 Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Team CSC - Saxo Bank                           15
3 Bram Tankink (Ned) Rabobank                                           9
4 Leif Hoste (Bel) Silence - Lotto                                      6
5 Maarten Wynants (Bel) Quick Step                                      5
6 André Greipel (Ger) Team Columbia                                     3
7 Marco Marcato (Ita) Cycle Collstrop                                   3
8 Mirko Selvaggi (Ita) Cycle Collstrop                                  3
9 David Deroo (Fra) Skil-Shimano                                        3
10 Anders Lund (Den) Team CSC - Saxo Bank                               1
11 Mauro Da Dalto (Ita) Liquigas                                        1
12 Bram De Groot (Ned) Rabobank                                         1
 
Teams classification
 
1 Team Columbia                                                  79.22.09
2 Quick Step                                                         0.59
3 Rabobank                                                           1.52
4 Astana                                                             2.16
5 Skil - Shimano                                                     3.53
6 Cycle - Collstrop                                                  5.01
7 Silence - Lotto                                                   17.43
8 Liquigas                                                          18.15
9 Team CSC Saxo Bank                                                18.57
10 AG2R La Mondiale                                                 21.12
11 Caisse d`Épargne                                                 30.58
12 Crédit Agricole                                                  33.52
13 Team Milram                                                      35.35
14 Bouygues Telecom                                                 35.56
15 Française des Jeux                                               37.43
16 Scott - American Beef                                            49.43
17 Lampre                                                         1.09.43
18 Cofidis, le Crédit par Téléphone                               1.12.55
19 Euskaltel - Eusdaki                                            1.13.46

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