Today’s 187 kilometer long third stage of Eneco Tour brought the peloton to the Dutch seaboard to finish in Brouwersdam. And it wasn’t quite the usual game of cat and mouse between the field and a breakaway. Several different breaks took turns creating gaps to the irresolute peloton.
But with 17 kilometers remaining, the pack was complete and the sprinter teams were fighting intensely for a good position for their sprinters in the expected bunch sprint. However, four riders managed to launch a surprise attack and created a small gap on the final kilometer and on the finish line, Zdenok Stybar (Omega-Pharma Quick Step) was the rider with the fastest sprint and he took the stage win.
Team Saxo-Tinkoff DS, Tristan Hoffman comments from Holland:
“The boys did a solid effort at the entrance to the finale where we tried to put Marko (Kump) in a favorable position but when the stage was decided, he was boxed in. however, Johnny (Cantwell) managed to sprint to 12th position. We expected a much harder finale due to cross winds but for once, there was hardly any wind at the coastline so the peloton remained almost complete. I’m however happy with the boys’ effort and we’re trying again tomorrow,” said Hoffman.