André Greipel (Lotto-Belisol) took the opening stage of the Tour of Belgium, between Mechelen and Buggenhout, by the tightest possible margin. The big German sprinter managed to throw his front wheel millimetres ahead of that of Italian Danilo Napolitano (Acqua & Sapone) at the end of the flat, 162km stage, after a powerful lead out from his Lotto-Belisol team.
Dutchman Kenny van Hummel (Vacansoleil-DCM) was third, less than the width of half a wheel behind.
"The Tour of Belgium is important for me, but also for the team and sponsors,” said Greipel. “In the first three races the sprinters will have their chance to win and in these races that will be our objective. It's unclear what the time trial and day five will bring, we ‘ll have to wait and see.
“This tour is the first in a build up to the Tour de France, but I don't want to understate the importance of it,” he added. “For the first time in a long while we now are a sprinting machine and we hope we will be able to show it. I'm very happy with the return of Jürgen [Roelandts] to the team and the fact that he can be a strong force in our machine.”
The stage was dominated by an eight-man breakaway group, after Michael Schär (BMC Racing) and Jelle Wallays (Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator) escaped after just 20 kilometres, and were quickly joined by Paolo Ciavatta (Acqua & Sapone), Arnaud Jouffroy (Telenet-Fidea), Egidijus Juodvalkis (Landbouwkrediet-Euphony), Leonardo Duque (Cofidis), Simon Geschke (Argos-Shimano) and Philippe Legrand (Wallonie Bruxelles-Credit Agricole).
The two big Belgian ProTeams of Lotto-Belisol and Omega Pharma-Quick Step were both absent from the break, but kept its lead under control throughout the stage. With 20 kilometres to go, the eight men were just 1’05” ahead and, as the two teams increased the pace, Jouffroy, Juodvalkis, Duque, Geschke and Legrand were caught with 13 kilometres to go.
Schär, Ciavatta and Wallays managed to hold out a little longer, but were swept up as the Lotto-Belisol sprint train wound up the pace for the finish. Greipel was delivered to the line by his team, but Napolitano came within a whisker of spoiling the Belgian party.
Time bonuses gave Greipel the first yellow jersey of the race.
Result stage 1
1. André Greipel (Ger) Lotto-Belisol
2. Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Acqua & Sapone
3. Kenny van Hummel (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM
4. Jacopo Guarnieri (Ita) Team Astana
5. Adam Blythe (GBr) BMC Racing Team
6. Michael Van Staeyen (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator
7. Stefan van Dijk (Ned) Accent.jobs-Willems Verandas
8. Baptiste Planckaert (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Euphony
9. Robin Stenuit (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles-Credit Agricole
10. Tom Meeusen (Bel) Telenet-Fidea
Standings after stage 1
1. André Greipel (Ger) Lotto-Belisol
2. Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Acqua & Sapone @ 4s
3. Kenny van Hummel (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM @ 6s
4. Egidijus Juodvalkis (Ltu) Landbouwkrediet-Euphony @ 7s
5. Simon Geschke (Ger) Argos-Shimano @ 8s
6. Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis @ 9s
7. Jacopo Guarnieri (Ita) Team Astana @ 10s
8. Adam Blythe (GBr) BMC Racing Team
9. Michael Van Staeyen (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator
10. Stefan van Dijk (Ned) Accent.jobs-Willems Verandas