Skil-Shimano’s Yann Huguet won the 37th edition of the Hel van het Mergelland ahead of Jos van Emden of the favored Rabobank team. The two had escaped with 30km to go from a 20-man group.
Huguet praised his teammates. “I have to thank my team, which was very strong today. We were always represented in the front. Besides, I knew the roads well because the team’s trainings sessions always take place in this area.”
The race with several loops around the communities of Eijsden, Margraten and Voeren offered multiple small climbs. Simon Geschke, Huguet’s teammate, took off early. When the climbs and the wind whittled down the peloton, Huguet and Van Emden went. They caught Geschke, which gave Skil-Shimano a two to one advantage. Their maximum advantage was around the one-minute mark.
But Geschke paid for his earlier efforts and had to let go with ten kilometers left to race. Saxo Bank took control of the peloton. They came within nine seconds but couldn’t reach the leading duo. Saxo Bank’s work paid off for Dominik Klemme, who managed to squeeze past Geschke in the end.
Results
1. Yann Huguet (Skil-Shimano) 196 km in 5u09’07”
2. Jos van Emden (Rabobank) s.t.
3. Dominik Klemme (Saxo Bank) at 0’09
4. Simon Geschke (Skil-Shimano)
5. Koos Moerenhout (Rabobank)
6. Federico Canuti (Colnago – CSF Inox)
7. Gert Dockx (HTC-Columbia)
8. Albert Timmer (Skil-Shimano)
9. Preben Van Hecke (Topsport Vlaanderen – Mercator)
10. Arnoud Van Groen (Vacansoleil) at 0’12