Young British rider takes first professional win as Tom Boonen makes a safe return
Adam Blythe (OmegaPharma-Lotto) won the first stage of the Circuit Franco-Belge between Templeuve, France and Mouscron, Belgium in a bunch sprint. The 20-year-old Briton beat Gerald Ciolek (Milram) and Kristof Goddaert (AG2R-La Mondiale) into second an third respectively at the end of the 187.3km stage.
“I am very happy to be here to win the mass sprint in Mouscron,” said Blythe to de Standaard. “It’s my first win of the season.
“On top of that, I’m also a leader in the overall standings,” he continued. “The team worked very hard for me today; we have a very good team in this Franco-Belge and we’re ready to defend this jersey until the end.”
The early kilometres of the stage were punctuated by brief attacks from Marco Marcato (Vacansoleil) and André Steensen (Saxo Bank); after 59km though, a successful move was made by Marcato again, with Thomas Degand (Verandas Willems), Jakob Fuglsang (Saxo Bank) and Damien Gaudin (Bbox Bouygues Telecom). The four riders manage to open up a lead of 5 minutes over the peloton, but the sprinters’ teams would allow them no more.
Acceleration from the peloton, notably from the Quick Step and RadioShack teams, eventually pulled the quartet back with just 5km to go. A late attempt to escape came in from Ronny Martias (Saur-Sojasun), but he was given no chance to get away and the sprint was on.
Tom Boonen (Quick Step), riding his first race since the July operation on the knee injury sustained in the Tour of California, elected not to contest the sprint but finished safely in the peloton.
Result stage 1
1. Adam Blythe (GBr) OmegaPharma-Lotto
2. Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Team Milram
3. Kristof Goddaert (Bel) AG2R-La Mondiale
4. Kenny Van Hummel (Ned) Skil-Shimano
5. Wim Stroetinga (Ned) Team Milram
6. Baptiste Planckaert (Bel) Landbouwkrediet
7. Jimmy Casper (Fra) Saur-Sojasun
8. Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo
9. Sébastien Chavanel (Fra) FDJ
10. Pieter Vanspeybroeck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator
Standings after stage 1
1. Adam Blythe (GBr) OmegaPharma-Lotto
2. Marco Marcato (Ita) Vacansoleil @ 1s
3. Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Team Milram @ 4s
4. Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Team Saxo Bank
5. Kristof Goddaert (Bel) AG2R-La Mondiale @ 6s