HTC-Columbia's Adam Hansen has won the hilly 194 kilometer fourth stage of the Ster Elektrotoer from Verviers to La Gileppe today, powering past Laurent Beuret (Carmiooro - NGC) and Johan Coenen (Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator) in a three-up sprint to also assume the race's overall lead.
Hansen's win marks his first victory since the Australian national time trial championships in 2008, and brings the HTC-Columbia men's team their thirtieth success of the season.
"Everybody in the team worked really well to make sure I got in the right move. Then there was a final circuit with two laps and the second last time up the climb on it, I formed a group of five guys, trying to get rid of the other general classification riders," Hansen explained after the stage.
"Finally I attacked at the bottom of the last ascent three kilometres from the finish and that bought me some time," he added. "I opened up the sprint with about 200 metres to go. I know my limits well and I started to fade with about five metres left, so I think I got it right!"
Tomorrow's final stage will take the peloton on a flat 174 kilometer route from Arcen to Helmond in the Netherlands, with HTC-Columbia having plenty of reasons to keep the race together.
"We'll be setting things up for André [Greipel] in a bunch sprint, and try to defend my jersey at the same time. It's a good stage for André," he concluded.
Greipel will be looking to give the HTC-Columbia team reason to start him in the Tour de France next month.
2010 Ster Elektrotoer stage 4 results:
1. Adam Hansen (HTC-COlumbia) in 4.52:24
2. Laurent Beuret (Carmiooro - NGC) s.t.
3. Johan Coenen (Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator) s.t.
4. Thomas De Gendt (Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator) @ 2sec
5. Bjorn Leukemans (Vacansoleil) @ 3sec
General classification following stage 4:
1. Adam Hansen (HTC-COlumbia) in 4.52:24
2. Johan Coenen (Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator) @ 15sec
3. Thomas De Gendt (Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator) @ 16sec
4. Bram Schmitz (Van Vliet EBH Elshof) s.t.
5. Pieter Weening (Rabobank) @ 20sec