A brave ride by Jens Keukeleire has seen the Belgian trade blows with the top general classification contenders of the Eneco Tour on stage five today.
Tipped to be a day suited to the 25-year-old, Keukeleire featured at the front of the peloton for much of the race, closing down numerous attacks in the last 25km.
In the end it was BMC Racing’s relentless teamwork and counterattacking that saw Greg Van Avermaet produce the winning blow on the final rise to the line. Keukeleire finished 16th, amongst the first select group, and sits tenth on the general classification with two days remaining.
Sport director Matt Wilson was pleased with Keukeleire’s approach to the stage.
“He rode a really good race, a really aggressive race,” Wilson said.
| Place | Rider/Team | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greg Van Avermaet (BEL) - BMC Racing Team | 3:48:37 |
| 2 | Tom Dumoulin (NED) - Team Giant-Shimano | 0:00:01 |
| 3 | Pavel Brutt (RUS) - Team Katusha | ST |
| 4 | Matti Breschel (DEN) - Tinkoff-Saxo | ST |
| 5 | Lars Boom (NED) - Belkin-Pro Cycling Team | ST |
| 6 | Niki Terpstra (NED) - Omega Pharma - Quick-Step | 0:00:06 |
| 7 | Geraint Thomas (GBR) - Team Sky | ST |
| 8 | Tim Wellens (BEL) - Lotto Belisol | ST |
| 9 | Filippo Pozzato (ITA) - Lampre-Merida | ST |
| 10 | Philippe Gilbert (BEL) - BMC Racing Team | ST |
| Place | Mitchelton-SCOTT Riders | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Jens Keukeleire (BEL) - ORICA-GreenEDGE | 0:00:06 |
| 53 | Leigh Howard (AUS) - ORICA-GreenEDGE | 0:08:52 |
| 101 | Mathew Hayman (AUS) - ORICA-GreenEDGE | 0:10:25 |
| 109 | Aidis Kruopis (LTU) - ORICA-GreenEDGE | 0:12:20 |
| 129 | Jens Mouris (NED) - ORICA-GreenEDGE | 0:12:31 |
| 130 | Matthew Harley Goss (AUS) - ORICA-GreenEDGE | 0:12:31 |
| 131 | Michael Hepburn (AUS) - ORICA-GreenEDGE | 0:12:31 |
| 134 | Damien Howson (AUS) - ORICA-GreenEDGE | 0:12:36 |
