BinckBank Tour 2018 Stage 7: Matthews wins final race, GC victory Mohoric

The final stage of the BinckBank Tour is a mini-version of the Tour of Flanders. The route takes in a series of short and sharp (cobbled) climbs before the finish halfway up the Wall of Geraardsbergen. Michael Matthews wins the demanding race, while Matej Mohoric takes the overall victory. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 7th stage 2018 BinckBank Tour

1. Michael Matthews (aus)
2. Greg Van Avermaet (bel) + 0.01
3. Zdenek Stybar (cze) + 0.03
4. Oliver Naesen (bel) s.t.
5. Maximilian Schachmann (ger) s.t.
6. Tim Wellens (bel) s.t.
7. Dion Smith (nzl) s.t.
8. Niki Terpstra (nld) s.t.
9. Dylan van Baarle (nld) s.t.
10. Jan Polanc (slo) + 0.07

13. Matej Mohoric (slo) + 0.13

Final GC 2018 BinckBank Tour

1. Matej Mohoric (slo)
2. Michael Matthews (aus) + 0.05
3. Tim Wellens (bel) + 0.20
4. Maximilian Schachmann (ger) + 0.25
5. Dylan van Baarle (nld) + 0.34
6. Greg Van Avermaet (bel) + 0.37
7. Søren Kragh Andersen (den) + 0.39
8. Gregor Mühlberger (aut) + 0.43
9. Niki Terpstra (nld) s.t.
10. Jasper Stuyven (bel) + 0.50

Race report
A lot of movement in the first hour eventually leads to a seven-man group at the front of the race. Dylan Groenewegen, Laurens De Vreese, Markel Irizar, Jonas Rickaert, Elmar Reinders, Guillaume Van Keirsbulck and Ludwig De Winter race to a maximum lead of almost 5 minutes.

De Vreese, Irizar and Van Keirsbulck are the last men standing on the Denderoordberg with 56 kms remaining. Van Keirsbulck heads out alone on the Muur of Geraardsbergen when his lead is down to 1 minute.

With 40 kms out Valgren Andersen, Martens and Rickaert go after the lone leader. A seven-man group – with Ulissi, Slagter and Campenaerts – is chasing the chasers.

Valgren Andersen is plagued by a mechanical just before they rejoin Van Keirsbulck. The other two hook on with almost 30 kms to go, while Valgren Andersen winds up in the Ilussi group. Stybar bridges across to that group a little later.

When the bell rings for the last lap, halfway up the Muur van Geraardsbergen, Martens goes alone.Van Keirsbulck brings him back, while the chasers are gobbled by the favourites in the main group. At the top the group is down to ten riders. Leader Mohoric is lacking, but he tracks his opponents down.

Just before the Golden Kilometre Wellens and Naesen jump across to the two leaders. Stybar and Matthews also go on the attack. Naesen wins 8 ‘Golden seconds’, Wellens 7, Matthews 2.

Naesen pushes on in the Golden Kilometre to go solo, while Stybar and Matthews rejoin Wellens. Terpstra, Stuyven, Valgren Andersen and Van Keirsbulck also regain contact, but 14 kms before the line it alle comes together when the main group with Mohoric regains contact. Naesen is almost half a minute ahead.

On the Denderoordberg Naesen is brought back and despite a lot of action in the last 5 kms the riders hit the last climb ‘en groupe’. Matthews powers up the cobbles to take a clear win over Greg Van Avermaet and Zdenek Stybar. Mohoric struggles on the last obstacle of the BinckBank Tour, but brings the GC victory home with a 5 seconds lead over stage winner Matthews. Wellens finishes third on GC.