Nathan Earle was the best-placed Team Sky finisher on a gruelling sixth stage at the Eneco Tour.

The rain returned on roads made famous by Liege-Bastogne-Liege, with Earle coming home 20th as the peloton arrived in small groups.

Tim Wellens (Lotto Soudal) won a stage of attrition with a daring solo attack on the final lap. The Belgian crossed the line with an advantage of 49 seconds over nearest challengers Greg van Avermaet (BMC Racing) and Simon Geschke (Giant-Alpecin) to take the race lead.

Wellens launched his move on the final lap of a tricky circuit around Houffalize, scooping up valuable bonus seconds through the day's 'Golden Kilometre' to hand himself a 1:03 lead over van Avermaet heading into the final day.

Attacks began shortly after the peloton crossed the finish for the first time and quickly the race began to split apart on a technical parcours. A group of 19 riders eventually solidified as the day's breakaway were caught a long way before the finish.

Overnight race leader Wilco Kelderman (LottoNL-Jumbo) found himself isolated and momentarily dropped after being forced to shut down a relentless barrage of attacks.

Team Sky began the day with six riders with Ian Stannard and Chris Sutton not taking the start in Heerlen. After a mammoth performance at the recent Tour de France, Stannard made his return at Eneco Tour and battled through the race before eventually returning home to continue his recovery. Sutton encountered increasing discomfort in his back and withdrew from the race on medical advice.

Elsewhere in Europe Leopold Konig pulled off an impressive solo victory at the Czech Cycling Tour on stage three in the colours of the Czech National Team.