Moreno Hofland began the Tour of Beijing with a sixth place today. The fast Dutchman arrived in the final phase of 167-kilometre stage from Chong Li to Zhangjiakou isolated and could not sprint to his fullest potential. Luka Mezgec of team Giant-Shimano won opener. 

"I felt good, but could go all-in in the final three hundred metres,” said Hofland. "I got boxed in, which of course annoys me.” 

Sports Director Nico Verhoeven watched Hofland sitting in the front alone in the final, which was not the plan. 

“We weren’t able to do what we wanted, because Graeme Brown and Dennis van Winden were dropped at back due to bad luck,” said Verhoeven. “They rode with a group of about forty riders, which also included Barry Markus and Nick van der Lijke. Therefore we missed four men to support Moreno in the final.” 

The atmosphere in the team is good, however. Verhoeven hopes to bounce back straight away. 

“We’re feeling fine,” he added. “Tomorrow’s stage is a little easier, or let me put it this way: the chance of a bunch kick sprint is slightly better. If our men don’t encounter anything difficult, we will have a better chance to make our presence felt in the final.” 

Saturday's stage is rather short, taking the pack from Chong Li to Yanqing. After two climbs of the third category, the pack enters a flat final.