World Ports Classic: Win for Nikolas Maes

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Dutchman Maarten Tjallingii wins stage 2 whilst the overall goes to Nikolas Maes whose third place bonus was enough to give him the race victory

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The second stage of the World Ports Classic was expecting a showdown of the world’s best sprinters however, just like yesterday, a lone adventurer soloed to victory in today’s stage to Antwerp. Dutchman Maarten Tjallingii (Belkin) stayed clear of a 15-man group in a lively finale after blue jersey Jelle Wallays (TopSport) and the top sprinters missed the decisive move.

Maes WPC 2

Photo: OPQS/Tim de Waele

Omega Pharma-Quick Step Belgian Nikolas Maes’ third-place finish, 3″ behind Tjallingii, netted him a time bonus that was enough for him to succeed fellow countryman and teammate Tom Boonen as the winner of the “Race of the Wind”.

The 137 riders left in the World Ports Classic rolled out of Rotterdam along the New Meuse (Nieuwe Maas) at 11:15 this morning. On the menu, a 191 km stage to Antwerp along the North Sea coast, battered by strong north-westerly winds. Lots of riders gave it a go in the first few kilometres, including Aussie sprinter Mark Renshaw (Belkin), but the high pace meant they were soon brought back into the fold.

The peloton soon broke up into several groups before things came back together at km 35, giving Belgian Louis Verhelst (Cofidis) the chance to slip away together with American Jacob Rathe (Garmin). Despite managing to open a 1′40″ gap over the bunch at the 50 km mark, the duo were finally caught shortly after the Neeltje Jans intermediate sprint (km 74), with André Greipel (Lotto-Belisol) taking third place.

The peloton did not let up as it chugged away on the seafront dikes and polders, with an average speed of 47 km/h for the first two hours. Omega Pharma Quick-Step and Lotto-Belisol were in their element, taking advantage of the change of direction near Middelburg (km 92.5) to thin out the peloton and test leader Jelle Wallays, who fought back like a lion. The size of the leading group dwindled to about forty men. Kittel (Argos) and Renshaw were among the big names who did not make the cut, but the blue jersey was still in the mix despite having no teammates left.

Faced with Wallays’ resilience, André Greipel’s Lotto-Belisol changed tack by sending Lars Bak up front with 45 km to go. The Dane still had 30″ at the tough Kasseistrook cobbled sector (2,300 m), with a group of fifteen big guns, including French fast man Bryan Coquard and three riders each of the Lotto-Belisol and Saxo Bank teams, hot in pursuit following an attack by Tristan Valentin (Cofidis). Isolated blue jersey Jelle Wallays and sprinters Greipel and Petacchi could only watch as the decisive break rolled away.

Lars Bak was caught by the chase group with 25 km to go. Dutchman Maarten Tjallingii (Belkin) then launched a vicious attack with 15 km to go that went unanswered. Five kilometres later, his margin over the 15-man group had grown to 30″. The Saxo Bank and Lotto-Belisol riders took control of the chase behind, but the Dutch rouleur did not falter and made it to the finish line with a few seconds to spare, with Frédérique Robert (Lotto) and Nikolas Maes (OPQS) rounding off the podium.

Maes WPC 1

Photo: OPQS/Tim de Waele

The time bonus was enough for Maes to move into the leader’s blue jersey and take the second edition of the World Ports Classic.

“We built this victory in two days of a great job with the team,” Maes said. “Yesterday we tried with Alessandro Petacchi. We worked for him for the sprint, but there was another guy in the front, Jelle Wallays (Lotto-Belisol). So this morning we tried again to go for Peta. The team really was involved in every moment of the race. At 30 kilometers and 90 kilometers for example, we tried to split the group. But it was not the wind we were expecting”.

“So it was really difficult to split the best in the GC. In the final, there was Lars Bak (Lotto-Belisol) on the attack and we were behind with four riders. Wilfried Peeters from the car told me to attack and try to enter in an eventual breakaway. I went on the attack with 15 guys but I was the only one on the team.”

“He told me not to ride and wait for the sprint. I sat on wheels of the rest waiting for the right moment and hoping also to win the stage. I suppose that Maarten Tjallingii (Belkin Pro Cycling Team) could have been caught, but it wasn’t the case. I went for the sprint. I did a long sprint and Frederique Robert (Lotto-Belisol) just passed me at the finish line”.

“When this happened I was afraid I didn’t win the race, but after the finish someone on the team told me Robert was far behind the day before, and so I was the winner. I am really happy and I have to thank the team. They rode like hell today. In this team everyone helps each other and when you have your chance you can count on this great team to support you. Now I am in good condition. I have still a few races in front of me on my program. I will do my best to make the best out of my condition.”

Stage 2
1 TJALLINGII Maarten Belkin Pro Cycling Team 03:55:12
2 ROBERT Frederique Lotto Belisol Team 00:03
3 MAES Nikolas Omega Pharma – Quick-Step @ st
4 PORSEV Alexander Katusha Team @ st
5 VANGENECHTEN Jonas Lotto Belisol Team @ st
6 MOL Wouter Vacansoleil – DCM @ st
7 WYNANTS Maarten Belkin Pro Cycling Team @ st
8 CURVERS Roy Team Argos – Shimano @ st
9 CANTWELL Jonathan Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
10 HONIG Reinier Crelan-Euphony @ st
11 VALENTIN Tristan Cofidis Solutions Crédits @ st
12 COQUARD Bryan Team Europcar @ st
13 BROECKX Stig Lotto Belisol Team @ st
14 KUMP Marko Team Saxo-Tinkoff 00:14
15 BAK Lars Ytting Lotto Belisol Team 00:36
16 AAEN JORGENSEN Jonas Team Saxo-Tinkoff 00:53
17 GREIPEL Andre Lotto Belisol Team 08:00
18 VAN STAEYEN Michael Topsport Vlaanderen – Baloise @ st
19 JANS Roy Accent.jobs – Wanty @ st
20 SCHNAIDT Fabian Champion System Pro Cycling Team @ st

21 THWAITES Scott Team NetApp – Endura @ st
49 WETTERHALL Alexander Team NetApp – Endura @ st
75 BRAMMEIER Matthew Champion System Pro Cycling Team @ st
DNS ROWSELL Erick Team NetApp – Endura –
DNF MCEVOY Jonathan Team NetApp – Endura

Overall
1 MAES Nikolas Omega Pharma – Quick-Step 07:28:10
2 CANTWELL Jonathan Team Saxo-Tinkoff 00:02
3 HONIG Reinier Crelan-Euphony @ st
4 PORSEV Alexander Katusha Team 00:03
5 CURVERS Roy Team Argos – Shimano 00:04
6 MOL Wouter Vacansoleil – DCM @ st
7 VALENTIN Tristan Cofidis Solutions Crédits @ st
8 BROECKX Stig Lotto Belisol Team @ st
9 KUMP Marko Team Saxo-Tinkoff 00:15
10 VANGENECHTEN Jonas Lotto Belisol Team 00:30

26 THWAITES Scott Team NetApp – Endura @ st
47 WETTERHALL Alexander Team NetApp – Endura @ st
58 BRAMMEIER Matthew Champion System Pro Cycling Team @ st

 

 

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