The fifth stage in the Eneco Tour was announced to be a little Amstel Gold Race. Between Riemst and Sittard-Geleen, the peloton had to ride 179.6 kilometres and 27 ascents needed to be climbed.

At first, the speed was very high in the peloton so the riders weren’t able to get away. Eventually two riders managed to set up a breakaway, Johan Le Bon and Dylan van Baarle were in it.

When the riders entered the local laps, it started to rain tremendously hard. Because of that and also due to the hard work of BMC, the peloton split in several groups. Tiesj Benoot, André Greipel and Tim Wellens were very attentive and they were in the first peloton.

Greipel then attacked at the end. His teammate Wellens, Preidler, Cort Nielsen and Kelderman joined him. Greipel really did a great effort to close the gap to the leaders but they remained in front. Le Bon won the stage after a late attack.

Lotto Soudal animated the stage and finished with three riders in the top ten. Due to the enormous effort of mainly Greipel, Wellens is now fifth in the GC at nineteen seconds of the new leader in this Eneco Tour, Wilco Kelderman. Greipel reinforces his red points jersey, he has 79 points in that classification.

Sports director Herman Frison reviews this heroic stage.

“It was impossible for the riders to escape in the beginning of this stage because of the high pace in the peloton. Eventually two riders got away, from that moment on we waited. BMC had to ride for Van Avermaet and Gilbert so we could step back a bit.

"When it started to rain, the peloton split in several groups but Tim Wellens as well as Tiesj Benoot and André Greipel were very alert and were in the first peloton.

“Greipel attacked but then waited for Tim and his companions. Together they tried to bridge the gap on the two leaders, but unfortunately that wasn’t possible. Tiesj was in a group behind them and could slow down a bit.

"André really gave his all, also Tiesj and Tim were very strong. I’m really proud of these guys. Certainly in the way they raced, with a lot of dedication and desire to do it well.

“The goal remains the same. We already won a stage, so that goal is fulfilled. For the general classification, we will see who will be the favourite.

"We have two candidates at this moment, Tiesj and Tim. Tim has a better position in the GC for the moment but we’re going to aim for the best possible classification. Both are in good shape, they’ve showed that again today. It’s difficult to predict who will become the main leader, we’re going to wait how the race will evolve and then we’ll see."