Theo Bos (Blanco) took his sixth victory of the season as he sprinted to the second stage of the Ster ZLM Toer, in Breda, in the southern Netherlands, beating two of the biggest names in the sport. The 29-year-old Dutchman beat André Greipel (Lotto-Belisol) and Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) into second and third at the end of a wet 175.7km stage dominated by attacks.
“It’s always cool to best that class of rider but to top them all at the same time is really a kick”, said Bos after the finish. “This is the first time that has happened although I beaten them individually in the past.
“It was not an easy parcours,” he explained. “It was a small group at the finish line, some 26 I believe. All the more reason to savour the win. It’s an indication that I have progressed further. It’s a great feeling to enough left in the tank after such a challenging ride to be able to sprint for the victory.
“Lars Boom and Robert Wagner [actually Jürgen Roelandts (Lotto-Belisol) -ed] broke away near the end but were chased down,” Bos added. “At about 3 kilometres out from the line, I was in the right place at the right time. I was behind Kittel, Greipel and Cavendish in fourth and made my move with 300 metres to go. Fantastic to see that no one can get ahead of you.”
The main break of the day came from five Continental riders, in the form of Jurriën Boster and Dries Hollanders (Metec-TKH), Steven Lammertink and Jens te Stroet (Jo Piels), and Bart van Haaren (Koga). The quintet was able to get a maximum of 2’40” ahead, before being steadily reeled in by the peloton, which was splitting in the conditions.
A group of 34 riders formed at the head of the race as it approached the finish, but second place overall Lars Boom (Blanco) and Jürgen Roelandts (Lotto-Belisol) in the last five kilometres. The duo was pulled back by the peloton with just over a kilometre to go and, in the sprint for the line, Bos proved to be the fastest.
Stage one time trial winner Robert Wagner (Blanco) was safely in the front of the peloton, and held on to his yellow jersey ahead of Boom and Marcel Kittel (Argos-Shimano).
Result stage 2
1. Theo Bos (Ned) Blanco Pro Cycling
2. André Greipel (Ger) Lotto-Belisol
3. Mark Cavendish (GBr) Omega Pharma-Quick Step
4. Blaz Jarc (Slo) NetApp-Endura
5. Marcel Kittel (Ger) Argos-Shimano
6. Raymond Kreder (Ned) Garmin-Sharp
7. Greg Henderson (NZl) Lotto-Belisol
8. Danilo Wyss (Swi) BMC Racing Team
9. Tom Veelers (Ned) Argos-Shimano
10. Jetse Bol (Ned) Blanco Pro Cycling
Standings after stage 2
1. Robert Wagner (Ger) Blanco Pro Cycling
2. Lars Boom (Ned) Blanco Pro Cycling @ 2s
3. Marcel Kittel (Ger) Argos-Shimano @ 4s
4. Andrew Fenn (GBr) Omega Pharma-Quick Step @ 6s
5. André Greipel (Ger) Lotto-Belisol @ 7s
6. Michal Golas (Pol) Omega Pharma-Quick Step @ 11s
7. Marcel Sieberg (Ger) Lotto-Belisol @ 13s
8. Mark Cavendish (GBr) Omega Pharma-Quick Step @ 14s
9. Thomas Dekker (Ned) Garmin-Sharp @ 21s
10. Jetse Bol (Ned) Blanco Pro Cycling @ 23s