Omega Pharma-Lotto dominates their home Tour
The Omega Pharma-Lotto team continued their streak of success Sunday at the Tour of Belgium, with Andre Greipel sprinting to victory in the final stage of the race and Philippe Gilbert claiming the overall title. Greipel won the sprint ahead of Aidis Kruopis (Landbouwkrediet) and Luca Paolini (Katusha).
Gilbert’s overall win is a continuation of his early season success, where the Belgian stormed to victory in Brabatse Pijl, and continued his momentum all the way through the Ardennes Classics to pull off a rare Ardennes treble. Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing) finished second with Björn Leukemans (Vacansoleil-DCM)rounding out the overall podium in third.
The 169.4 stage took the peloton from Oreye to Putte over a flat route that was almost certain to end in a bunch sprint. Three men tried their luck on the day and were allowed a maxium advantage of 3 minutes over a watchful peloton. The move included Marcus Burghardt (BMC Racing), Dries Hollanders (An Post-Sean Kelly) and Kurt Hovelynck (Donckers Koffie-Jelly Belly). The Omega Pharma-Lotto team always kept the trio within reach, and reeled them back into the fold before the closing circuit in Putte.
In the end it was Gilbert and Marcel Sieberg who set Griepel up perfectly to secure his second stage victory in the race. Kenny van Hummel (Skil-Shimano) crossed the line second with Kruopis finishing the sprint in third. That wasn’t the podium for the final stage though; race commisaires relegated Van Hummel because of a tussle with Kruopis during their fight to the line, which moved Paolini up into third.