Tinkoff-Saxo takes a step forward in the general classification of Eneco Tour after heaps of action on a day of flat-out effort in punchy terrain. Rogers and Juul-Jensen took turns attacking at the front of the soaking wet racing, where last year’s winner Tim Wellens ultimately secured both stage win and overall leadership, while Tinkoff-Saxo’s duo took 11th and 12th on the stage.

The finish line atop the final punchy climb in Houffalize seemed to beckon the riders on after nearly 5.5 hours of hard racing in soaking rain. After a head-on approach from Tinkoff-Saxo’s Michael Rogers and Chris Juul-Jensen with several attacks out of the front group of favorites, the duo managed to climb the GC ladder.

“I’m very happy with the team’s effort today and Rogers and Juul-Jensen undeniably rode a great stage today. After all, they advance to 6th and 8th in the general classification and against such a strong field, I think that is more than approved. Tim Wellens was in a class of his own in the finale putting in his acceleration at the right moment. It was indeed a very hard race - 208 kilometers of constant up and down on classic Ardennes roads”, says team sports director Patxi Vila and adds:

“We wanted to try our chances today and Mick also launched an attack in the decisive part of the race. We wanted to wait until the final circuit with three steep climbs, as the front group would be more fatigued at that point. He was eventually caught but had the legs to hang on and play an active role in the main group behind Wellens and Avermaet. Chris tried several times to break free on the final circuit but they wouldn’t let him go. Meanwhile, the time lost to Wellens on the final 10 kilometers shows that the group wasn’t adequately well-organized”.

With one day to go at Eneco Tour much can still happen in the general classification, as the riders will face 188km of racing to the esteemed cycling city of Geraardsbergen with multiple bergs and cobblestone sections along the way.

“The time differences in the GC were widened today but tomorrow is another arduous trial. It’s some of the same terrain as we see in Tour of Flanders and we must see how each rider copes with the cobblestones”, finishes Patxi Vila.