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Team Belkin’s Paul Martens ends Belgium Tour with win

  • Ron 

The Belkin Pro Cycling Team succeeded Sunday in the Baloise Belgium Tour. After having fought for victories in the previous stages, Paul Martens won the final stage by out-sprinting a small bunch in Oreye after 178 kilometres.

Bram Tankink attacked in the final along with race leader Tony Martin of Omega Pharma-Quick Step and Giant-Shimano’s Dries Devenyns. The group caught the trio in the final kilometre, however. “Martin can hold a very high pace and tried to create an opportunity for himself by attacking, but our group was so large that I didn’t have to worry,” said Martens.

In the sprint, the 30-year-old German kept his cool and beat Francesco Gavazzi of Astana and BMC’s Greg Van Avermaet. “When you sprint with a small group, it’s always difficult because riders can come from anywhere as the pace isn’t too high. I felt powerful and knew that if I could sprint freely, I could win. “It’s nice to win again. In the last few weeks, I was looking for the right feeling and I was a little bit uncertain. Hopefully, that’s over now.”

Sports Director Michiel Elijzen said the victory was a nice ending. “We have ridden an aggressive and smart race, and it’s nice that our work now pays off. Everyone rode at a high level this week. We’ve had a good week. Only three teams have won here and we are one of them.”

Sep Vanmarcke hit the tarmac in the sprint, but appeared OK despite a few big scrapes. Not long after his spill, he was already able to congratulate his teammate Martens. Elijzen said, “He’s pretty banged up, but laughed about it afterwards.”

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