Tyler Farrar (Garmin) won stage one of the 69th edition of the Circuit Franco Belge. The 25 year-old American won the sprint ahead of Italian Danilo Napolitano (Katusha) and Belgian Tom Boonen (Quickstep) after 214 kilometers from Templeuve to Moeskroen.
Just 14 kilometers into the stage a trio took off, including Belgian Wim De Vocht (Vacansoleil), and Frenchman Renaud Dion (Ag2r) and Cédric Coutouly (Besson Chaussures-sojasun), establishing an 11 minute lead after 45 kilometers.
The Landbouwkrediet-Colnago led peloton decreased the lead to 1:10 with just three finishing circuits left. De Vocht was the first to sit up after he collected enough points in the king of the mountains classification to take the jersey.
Dion and Coutouly were reeled in with 25 kilometers remaining but were countered by a Dutch trio including Tom Veelers (Skil Shimano), Tom Leezer (Rabobank), and the relentless attacker Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoleil). The three riders managed to build a lead of 25 seconds but were caught with three kilometers to go as the Garmin-Slipstream led peloton was in full pursuit.
Farrar will start tomorrow’s stage, a 225 kilometer trip from Flander’s Maubeuge to the French Poperinge, as leader with three stages remaining.