Simon Geschke finished off an attacking day of racing for Team Giant-Alpecin at the Eneco Tour with a third place under tough, wet weather conditions for the second day in succession.

The day started with a five rider breakaway which included Nikias Arndt, and once these riders were caught by the chasers the front of the race was down to a small select group from which Geschke kept trying his luck to get clear. It was eventually a big move from last year’s overall winner Tim Wellens (Lotto Soudal) that stuck, as Wellens moved clear to take the stage, just under a minute ahead of Greg van Avermaet (BMC) who accompanied Geschke in the chase.

Wellens assumes the overall race lead with the stage victory ahead of tomorrow’s final stage.

“It was a very tough stage but I felt strong in the final,” Geschke said after the stage. “I hoped to get in the right move to win the stage while the GC contenders sat watching each other, but the race didn’t happen like that so I’m happy with a third place as well, especially after not feeling great yesterday.”