Eneco Tour 2015 Stage 6: Brilliant Tim Wellens solos to win and leaders jersey

Eneco Tour 2015 Stage 6: Brilliant Tim Wellens solos to win and leader’s jersey

In 208.6 kilometres, stage 6 is the langest of the 2015 Eneco Tour. In rainy conditions in the Ardennes the race is nothing short of spectacular with Greg Van Averamet attacking with 70 km's left. Spectacle until the end with young Tim Wellens taking control with 23 kilometres left. He soloes to victory and is the new overall leader. Greg Van Avermaet is second, both in stage 6 and the overall. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 6th stage Eneco Tour

1. Tim Wellens (bel)
2. Greg Van Avermaet (bel) + 0.49
3. Simon Geschke (bel) + 0.50
4. Jan Bakelants (bel) + 1.03
5. Tom-Jelte Slagter (nld) + 1.07
6. Phippe Gilbert (bel) + 1.13
7. Tiesj Benoot (bel) s.t.
8. Fabio Felline (ita) s.t
9. Andrei Grivko (kaz) s.t.
10. Wilco Kelderman (nld) + 1.14

GC after stage 6
1. Tim Wellens (bel)
2. Greg Van Avermaet (bel) + 1.03
3. Wilco Kelderman (nld) + 1.17
4. Philippe Gilbert (bel) + 1.40
5. Fabio Felline (ita) + 1.48
6. Michael Rogers (aus) + 1.51
7. Andrei Grivko (kaz) + 1.54
8. Christoper Juul Jensen (den) + 2.05
9. Tiesj Benoot (bel) + 2.13
10. Jan Bakelants (bel) s.t.

Race report
A barrage of attacks marks the opening of the race, but it’s only after 20 km’s a break hits it off. Jan Polanc, Matthias Brändle, Nikias Arndt, Sebastien Turgot en Jerome Baugnies join forces and put 5 minutes into the peloton. The maximum gap is reached halfway the race and then the advantage keeps yo-yoing between 3 and 5 minutes.

With 65 km’s to go a group with Van Avermaet, Bakelants, Juul Jensen, Grivko and Benoot head for the front of the race, but they never get there. They are brought back on the second ascent of the steep Saint-Roche, while the front group is down to Brändle, Arndt and Baugnies. They enjoy a 1 minute gain, but with 50 km’s left their story is over.

Attacks by Brändle (gain), Geschke, Rogers and Van Avermaet are to no avail, but then Tim Wellens powers away. He grabs 9 bonification seconds in the Golden Kilometre and he pushes on to a 1 minute advantage.

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