Belgian sprinter takes what may be his last win for Quick Step, while young British rider comes of age
Wouter Weylandt (Quick Step) won the fourth and final stage of the Circuit Franco-Belge between Mons and Tournai, Belgium in a bunch sprint. He beat Gert Steegmans (RadioShack) and Bert De Backer (Skil-Shimano) into second and third at the end of the 164km stage.
“It was a really hard stage,” said Weylandt after his victory. “Wind made the race even tougher; our average speed during the race was near 50 km per hour. I must thank all of my team for the great job they did; [Tom] Boonen was magnificent managing the competition until the very final stages. Then the rest of the team guided me perfectly.
“We stuck together and this is the result. I’m satisfied.”
The stage’s only major breakaway came from Jakob Fuglsang (Saxo Bank), who escaped the peloton alone with around 25km to go. He was reeled in with 10km to go and the peloton headed for a sprint.
Steegmans launched his sprint early, but Weylandt came around to take the victory in what might well be his last race for Quick Step.
After winning two stages, 21-year-old British rider Adam Blythe (OmegaPharma-Lotto) won the race overall by 6 seconds over Sep Vanmarcke (Topsport Vlaandern).
“It was a very difficult day for me,” said a happy Blythe to Belga. “My teammates told me at the beginning of the race that they would do everything in their power to keep the leader’s jersey. When I punctured, I panicked a bit but through the work of my team-mate Olivier Kaisen I was back in the peloton.
“This victory is the most beautiful victory of my career.”
Result stage 4
1. Wouter Weylandt (Bel) Quick Step
2. Gert Steegmans (Bel) Team RadioShack
3. Bert De Backer (Bel) Skil-Shimano
4. Kristof Goddaert (Bel) AG2R-La Mondiale
5. Jens Keukeleire (Bel) Cofidis
6. Sébastien Chavanel (Fra) FDJ
7. Nadir Haddou (Fra) BigMat-Auber 93
8. James Vanlandschoot (Bel) Verandas Willems
9. Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Team Milram
10. Sep Vanmarcke (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen
Final overall standings
1. Adam Blythe (GBr) OmegaPharma-Lotto
2. Sep Vanmarcke (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen @ 6s
3. Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Team Saxo Bank @ 7s
4. Jacopo Guarnieri (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo @ 8s
5. Marco Marcato (Ita) Vacansoleil @ 9s