Team Giant-Alpecin riders were again on the attack on the seventh and final stage of the Eneco Tour as Georg Preidler made the day’s breakaway before Simon Geschke went on the attack in the finale.

Prediler got away early in the stage with 13 others and the day’s breakaway set about building an advantage of up to five minutes before hitting the repeated climbs of the Muur van Geraardsbergen. From this group three riders broke clear and would eventually stay away to contest the stage win.

Behind this group Simon Geschke broke clear in a select chase group that bridged up to Preidler's group, and the two worked together to try and push ahead but the bunch behind was to eventually catch their group from which point Zico Waeytens and Nikias Arndt took 11th and 13th respectively. At the front of the race Manuel Quinziato (BMC Racing) took a solo stage win while Tim Wellens (Lotto Soudal) held on to secure the overall victory.

“The early break was a big one today but with Georg there we were in a good position,” explained coach Mattias Reck. “In the end three riders got away to take the stage but Georg rode strongly in a group between these three and the peloton before Simon’s group got across. Together they pushed hard to try and get back to the front but the bunch caught them in the end.

“It was good team work on what was a very tough stage since the bunch never let the gap go out too far. Georg showed again today that he can get up the road and still be there at the end.”