Tim Wellens won the sixth stage of the Eneco Tour today. The finish line was drawn on La Redoute, Wellens had 50 seconds advantage on his first chaser Lars Boom. The 23-year-old didn't only take his first pro win ever, but he's also the new leader.
Boom is second in GC at seven seconds, Dumoulin is third at thirteen seconds. Jelle Vanendert moved up to the fourteenth place in GC.
A group of eight jumped away soon after the start. The break with Boonen and Nuyens had a maximal advantage of 7'25". Nathan Haas stayed ahead the longest. Then there were attacks of Pichot and Jeannesson.
Wellens bridged to Jeannesson first and then both joined Pichot. At the foot of the penultimate climb Wellens had already left his companions behind. He started solo at the last ascent of La Redoute and won impressively.
"Before the start we had agreed to see how far Jelle and I would get. After the stage to Geraardsbergen yesterday I already had a good feeling, although that wasn't completely my terrain. This morning I noticed my legs felt good again and that it could be my day. When I jumped away the riders behind me didn't give full gas. The team captains were isolated and there wasn't any organization. Afterwards Lars Boom did everything he could to get rid of GC leader Tom Dumoulin and then the tempo was raised," Tim Wellens said after the stage.
The goal for Wellens was to take the stage win and the GC was a secondary objevtive. But Tim Wellens is happy to take both the stage and the GC.
"The stage win was my first goal and then getting in top ten that was really important for the team. Considering I stood at 49 seconds I never thought I would be able to get the first position. It is fantastic that I win and take the jersey as well. Tomorrow we will do everything we can to keep that jersey. The bonification seconds will play a role, so we will have to race attentively."
DS Herman Frison says Wellens did what he was told and that it was an amazing performance by the Belgian.
"Tim did what we had asked. Jelle and he were the leaders, both were attentive in the final. It was perfect that Tim Wellens could jump to Jeannesson and Pichot on the Côte de Chambralles. From the team car we encouraged Tim and he followed our advice. He rode a marvellous last twenty kilometers. Tomorrow the team will lead Tim to the crucial points in the stage. Apart from the battle for the stage win there will be a fight for GC as well. What Tim did today was fantastic; leaving such big names at more than fifty seconds."
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