Tom Dumoulin put up a strong fight but was unable to defend his overall lead at the Eneco Tour on today’s penultimate stage. Despite a strong ride which saw him take fourth atop La Redoute, a late attack by Tim Wellens (Lotto Belisol) saw him take enough time to assume the race lead.

Tom now sits in third place overall with a small deficit to the new overall race leader ahead of tomorrow’s final day of racing.

The sixth stage always looked like it was going to be key to the outcome of the GC and the strength in the day’s breakaway was the first view of the tough day that lay ahead.

Eight riders moved clear early on and the team set about controlling the race behind with a view to saving Simon Geschke and Reinardt Janse van Rensburg for later in the day but lady luck was not smiling on the team once again today.

With the gap coming back down and the front group gradually thinning down over the repetitive climbs of the stage the front of the race started to take shape. However badly timed punctures, firstly for Reinardt and then for Simon meant that Tom was isolated in a select group at the front of the race.

Both riders punctured when there was no team car or neutral service in close proximity and this meant that the chase to get back on was almost impossible.

With Tom alone at the front of the race against strong representations from Belkin and BMC he was left to gamble slightly as to which moves he followed and which he didn’t. He gauged his efforts well and into the final 10km was still leading in a good position but the attacks kept coming.

A strong move from Wellens deep into the final saw him establish a gap quickly out front while behind Tom waited to see if the other teams would chase. The gap grew and Lars Boom (Belkin Pro Cycling) attacked leaving Tom to chase alone at the head of the group.

He fought hard and nearly clawed his way back to Boom by the line but the advantage that Wellens paired with the bonus seconds on the line meant that he had enough of an advantage to take the overall lead of the Tour.

“We had some bad luck with punctures today and these were again just at the wrong time when Tom needed the support at the front of the race,” Giant coach Rudi Kema said to the Giant website.

“We had a nice plan and it worked out until the last 20km where Simon had a flat – this left Tom alone in the final. He managed it really well but we had to gamble a bit with BMC and Belkin as to who would ride. When Wellens attacked Tom didn’t react straight away and then when Boom went he had to pull but it was too late. Wellens did a really strong ride,” Kemna continued.

“It was a nice race but we didn’t have the luck that we needed today. The team work was good and Tom’s legs were strong but we missed a few guys to help control in the final.”

“We will try and make it a hard race tomorrow and it will be good if a small group forms at the front. We will fight for it for sure and make a good plan together this evening looking at the route and what we can do,” he said.