CAVENDISH MOVES INTO POINTS LEAD IN ENECO
T-Mobile?s Mark Cavendish could not repeat Friday?s victory at Knokke-Heist on Saturday?s stage of the Eneco Tour - but his fourth place behind veteran fastman Robbie McEwen does put the Briton into the lead of the points competition.
Cavendish lost contact with his lead-out man Roger Hammond some three kilometres from the finish at Putte, and was unable to fully dispute the stage?s bunch sprint.
The Briton did get back onto Hammond?s back wheel in the finale, but was still concentrating on moving up through the bunch when the sprinters made their final move.
McEwen, on the other hand, was perfectly positioned with a strong surge to secure his eighth victory of the season ahead of Italy?s Francesco Chicchi, with Norway?s Thor Hushovd finishing third.
For McEwen - the winner at Canterbury in this year?s Tour before being eliminated from the race in the difficult Alpine stage at Tignes - Saturday?s victory was unexpected.
?I?ve just come through a period of no training for 10 days because of a knee injury.? McEwen commented before the stage.
?It wasn?t planned for me to take part in the Eneco Tour, so I?m treating this race more as preparation for what?s coming up in September.?
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
?My condition?s good, but it could be better.?
Overall there was no significant change. Former Tour of Britain winner Nick Nuyens (Cofidis) still leads by 10 seconds over Dutchman Thomas Dekker, with Jose Ivan Gutierrez 17 seconds back.
Britain?s David Millar (Saunier Duval), fourth overall, was caught out in a crash with 17 kilometres to go, but although he had to stop breifly, the Scot came through unscathed.
182.7 kilometres long and largely flat, stage four from Maldegem in Belgium to Terneuzen in Holland on Sunday is also expected to end in a bunch sprint.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Founded in 1891, Cycling Weekly and its team of expert journalists brings cyclists in-depth reviews, extensive coverage of both professional and domestic racing, as well as fitness advice and 'brew a cuppa and put your feet up' features. Cycling Weekly serves its audience across a range of platforms, from good old-fashioned print to online journalism, and video.
-
Chinese X-Lab vies for global domination as it equips XDS Astana with bikes for the WorldTour
A new partnership sees Astana aboard new bikes with increased funding for 2025
By Joe Baker Published
-
Tech of the week: Van Rysel releases an aero bike (quelle surprise!) plus a superlight carbon crankset from FSA, a long top tube bag from Tailfin and tyre liners from Zefal
The RCR-F aero bike will be ridden by the Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale team in 2025, but will it create headlines like the RCR?
By Luke Friend Published