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Eneco Tour, Netherlands

Stage 4, Landgraaf TT (NL), 16.1K

20 August

Hincapie Takes Stage and GC

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Redemption at last for George Hincapie (Discovery Channel). After failing to win any of the time trials at this year's Tour de France, Hincapie beat out the young Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) to win Eneco Tour of Benelux stage 4. Race leader Tom Boonen (Quick-Step) battled to keep his red jersey, but with only seventeen seconds separating Hincapie and Boonen, it would be tight. In the end, it was Hincapie who bested the World Champion and took over the red jersey of race leadership.

The 16.1K individual time trial in Landgraaf consisted of several small climbs, making the route one of the more difficult time trials around. The riders started in sunshine, but as the day wore on the clouds appeared. Many of the riders at the top of the classification started in rain, but were able to finish in sunshine or relatively dry conditions.

The first riders across the finish line completed the stage in over 20 minutes. As more and more riders reported back to their teams, the times grew quicker and eventually the question was would the winner finish in under 20 minutes?

Philippe Gilbert (Française Des Jeux) was one of the first riders to come close to the 20 minute mark. He finished the stage in 20'14", taking first over from Leif Hoste (Discovery Channel). But Gilbert's time didn't last long. The young Liquigas rider, Nibali, surprised everyone. He had the fastest time at the 8K time check, 9'57", the only rider to break the ten minute mark.

As he rode up to the finish, it was clear Nibali was going to be the first to finish in under 20 minutes. His final time was 19'58". But it would be the second fastest rider at the 8K check, Hincapie, who would nudge Nibali into second place by day's end. Hincapie would finish with nearly the same time, at 19'58", just a few tenths of a second faster than Nibali.

Not only would it be enough to give Hincapie his first time trial win in recent months, but he rode fast enough to take over the race lead from Boonen. The best young rider, Stefan Schumacher (Gerolsteiner), finished at 20'05". He snuck into third place, seven seconds ahead of José Iván Gutiérrez (Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears) and nine seconds ahead of Gilbert, rounding out the top five on the stage.

Boonen finished at 21'25", over a minute behind Hincapie. That time pushed Boonen off the top of the general classification and out of the top ten. Hincapie gave himself a three second lead over Stefan Schumacher, who moved from third up to second. Nibali moved himself up into third from eighth, while Gutiérrez moved up one place to fifth. Manuel Quinziato (Liquigas), winner of Eneco Tour of Benelux stage 2, slipped down into fifth place. And the biggest move of today was Gilbert, who went from fourteenth to sixth.

Hincapie gave his Discovery Channel team a much needed win and the added bonus of the race lead. The goal now for Hincapie is to keep the race lead to the end of the race. Discovery Channel will have their work cut out for them as they'll attempt to defend Hincapie's lead. Tomorrow's stage 5 is 183k through Belgium.
- Sarah

Results: 19:58'23", 48.38 K/h
1 George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel
2 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas 0.00.21
3 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner 0.06.87
4 Iván Gutiérrez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 0.14.09
5 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Française Des Jeux 0.16.30
6 Leif Hoste (Bel) Discovery Channel 0.21.95
7 Joost Posthuma (Ned) Rabobank 0.25.74
8 Juan Antonio Flecha (Spa) Rabobank 0.29.91
9 Gustav Erik Larsson (Swe) Française Des Jeux 0.33.01
10 Steffen Wesemann (Swi) T-Mobile 0.33.62
11 Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) Skil-Shimano 0.34.37
12 Bram Tankink (Ned) Quick-Step 0.35.41
13 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas 0.37.42
14 Thomas Dekker (Ned) Rabobank 0.38.66
15 Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Phonak 0.39.03
16 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 0.41.05
17 Didier Rous (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 0.41.96
18 Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus) Discovery Channel 0.44.19
19 Johan Van Summeren (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto 0.44.37
20 Imanol Erviti (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 0.44.89
21 Servais Knaven (Ned) Quick-Step 0.46.53
22 Alexei Markov (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 0.46.75
23 Piet Rooijakkers (Ned) Skil-Shimano 0.47.50
24 Olaf Pollack (Ger) T-Mobile 0.49.75
25 Andrea Peron (Ita) Team CSC 0.50.49
26 Juan Carlos Dominguez (Spa) Unibet.com 0.51.49
27 Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) Skil-Shimano 0.53.65
28 Daniele Righi (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 0.54.69
29 Karsten Kroon (Ned) Team CSC 0.55.19
30 Nicolas Portal (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 0.55.59
31 Fabrizio Guidi (Ita) Phonak 0.55.62
32 Axel Merckx (Bel) Phonak 0.59.48
33 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel 0.59.67
34 Julian Dean (NZl) Crédit Agricole 0.59.94
35 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Française Des Jeux 1.00.97
36 Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) Crédit Agricole 1.01.89
37 Michael Blaudzun (Den) Team CSC 1.02.00
38 Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Liquigas 1.02.49
39 William Bonnet (Fra) Crédit Agricole 1.03.15
40 Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Cofidis 1.06.08
41 Aart Vierhouten (Ned) Skil-Shimano 1.06.39
42 Antonio Colom (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 1.06.95
43 Christophe Edaleine (Fra) Crédit Agricole 1.08.32
44 Kim Kirchen (Lux) T-Mobile 1.11.16
45 Volodymyr Bileka (Ukr) Discovery Channel 1.11.51
46 Paul Martens (Ger) Skil-Shimano 1.11.73
47 Serguei Ivanov (Rus) T-Mobile 1.13.94
48 Koen De Kort (Ned) Astaná 1.16.47
49 Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Crédit Agricole 1.17.27
50 Laurent Lefèvre (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 1.17.53
51 Michael Schär (Swi) Phonak 1.18.09
52 Daniel Navarro (Spa) Astaná 1.18.65
53 Bert Roesems (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto 1.19.27
54 Maxime Monfort (Bel) Cofidis 1.19.47
55 Martin Müller (Ger) Milram 1.20.62
56 Yoann Le Boulanger (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 1.21.05
57 José Joaquín Rojas (Spa) Astaná 1.22.29
58 Gerben Löwik (Ned) Rabobank 1.24.17
59 Baden Cooke (Aus) Unibet.com 1.24.65
60 Christophe Mengin (Fra) Française Des Jeux 1.25.06
61 Luke Roberts (Aus) Team CSC 1.26.07
62 Eladio Sánchez (Spa) Astaná 1.27.13
63 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick-Step 1.27.39
64 Bram De Groot (Ned) Rabobank 1.27.55
65 Gregory Rast (Swi) Phonak 1.28.56
66 Javier Mejías (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 1.29.37
67 Andoni Aranaga (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 1.29.69
68 Johan Coenen (Bel) Unibet.com 1.30.13
69 Manuele Mori (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir 1.30.44
70 Frederik Willems (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen 1.30.73
71 Joseba Albizu (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 1.32.40
72 Serge Baguet (Bel) Quick-Step 1.32.68
73 Maarten Den Bakker (Ned) Milram 1.34.23
74 Aurélien Clerc (Swi) Phonak 1.35.05
75 Frederik Veuchelen (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen 1.36.29
76 Roy Sentjens (Bel) Rabobank 1.36.32
77 Mathieu Heijboer (Ned) Cofidis 1.36.46
78 Jan Kuyckx (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto 1.36.75
79 Michiel Elijzen (Ned) Cofidis 1.38.06
80 Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Liquigas 1.38.13
81 Max Van Heeswijk (Ned) Discovery Channel 1.39.75
82 Mark Scanlon (Irl) Ag2R Prévoyance 1.39.92
83 Steven De Jongh (Ned) Quick-Step 1.39.97
84 Nicholas Roche (Irl) Cofidis
85 Kurt Hovelynck (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen 1.40.45
86 Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) Française Des Jeux 1.41.27
87 Yuriy Krivtsov (Ukr) Ag2R Prévoyance 1.41.08
88 Matej Jurco (Svk) Milram 1.41.70
89 Martin Elmiger (Swi) Phonak 1.42.35
90 Allan Johansen (Den) Team CSC 1.43.21
91 Alan Pérez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 1.43.69
92 Aitor Pérez Arrieta (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 1.44.42
93 Nick Nuyens (Bel) Quick-Step 1.44.55
94 Renaud Dion (Fra) Ag2R Prévoyance 1.45.54
95 Mario Aerts (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto 1.46.24
96 Damien Monier (Fra) Cofidis 1.46.44
97 Jan Boven (Ned) Rabobank 1.46.54
98 Laurent Mangel (Fra) Ag2R Prévoyance 1.46.77
99 Christoph Meschenmoser (Ger) Skil-Shimano 1.47.51
100 Iker Flores (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 1.48.64
101 Michael Albasini (Swi) Liquigas 1.49.11
102 Jeremy Hunt (GBr) Unibet.com 1.50.37
103 Leonardo Bertagnolli (Ita) Cofidis 1.50.91
104 Vicente Reynes (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 1.51.25
105 Loyd Mondory (Fra) Ag2R Prévoyance 1.51.67
106 Aaron Olson (USA) Saunier Duval-Prodir
107 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Crédit Agricole 1.52.46
108 Leon Van Bon (Ned) Davitamon-Lotto 1.53.67
109 Geert Verheyen (Bel) Quick-Step 1.53.91
110 Lars Michaelsen (Den) Team CSC 1.58.63
111 Steven Caethoven (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen 2.00.31
112 Matthé Pronk (Ned) Unibet.com 2.01.99
113 Mathew Hayman (Aus) Rabobank 2.02.35
114 Beñat Albizuri (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 2.02.42
115 Marco Zanotti (Ita) Unibet.com 2.02.74
116 Erwin Thijs (Bel) Unibet.com 2.02.94
117 Maarten Wynants (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen 2.02.95
118 Piotr Mazur (Pol) Saunier Duval-Prodir 2.03.65
119 Carlos Da Cruz (Fra) Française Des Jeux 2.04.60
120 Yohann Gène (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 2.04.99
121 Gorazd Stangelj (Slo) Lampre-Fondital 2.05.51
122 Luciano Pagliarini (Bra) Saunier Duval-Prodir 2.07.14
123 David Kopp (Ger) Gerolsteiner 2.07.98
124 Eric Baumann (Ger) T-Mobile 2.08.34
125 Carlos Abellán (Spa) Astaná 2.10.01
126 Carlo Scognamiglio (Ita) Milram 2.10.27
127 Glenn D'Hollander (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen 2.10.40
128 Mirco Lorenzetto (Ita) Milram 2.17.29
129 Simone Cadamuro (Ita) Milram 2.19.67
130 Kenny Van Hummel (Ned) Skil-Shimano 2.23.45
131 Matthias Kessler (Ger) T-Mobile 2.24.08
132 Ludovic Auger (Fra) Française Des Jeux 2.24.15
133 Marcus Zberg (Swi) Gerolsteiner 2.27.27
134 Wouter Weylandt (Bel) Quick-Step 2.27.54
135 Volker Ordowski (Ger) Gerolsteiner 2.27.95
136 Marco Righetto (Ita) Liquigas 2.28.64
137 Erki Pütsep (Est) Ag2R Prévoyance 2.28.95
138 Dennis Haueisen (Ger) Milram 2.29.06
139 Jason McCartney (USA) Discovery Channel 2.30.88
140 Yannick Talabardon (Fra) Crédit Agricole 2.31.65
141 Sébastien Portal (Fra) Crédit Agricole 2.34.73
142 Frank Hoj (Den) Gerolsteiner 2.35.03
143 Alberto Fernández De La Puebla (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 2.35.14
144 Unai Uribarri (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 2.36.88
145 Fabio Sabatini (Ita) Milram 2.38.54
146 Rik Reinerink (Ned) Skil-Shimano 2.45.17
147 Sandy Casar (Fra) Française Des Jeux 2.48.69
148 Mikel Pradera (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 2.49.45
149 Ivan Santos (Spa) Astaná 2.50.46
150 Matthew White (Aus) Discovery Channel 2.51.14
151 Gorka González (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 2.52.96
152 Mauro Da Dalto (Ita) Liquigas 2.59.40
153 Thomas Fothen (Ger) Gerolsteiner 3.01.19
154 Koen Barbé (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen 3.01.87
155 Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 3.02.49
156 Anthony Ravard (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 3.08.01
157 Nico Eeckhout (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen 3.09.15
158 Nicolas Fritsch (Fra) Saunier Duval-Prodir 3.18.76
159 Andy Flickinger (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 3.35.14
160 Sébastien Chavanel (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 3.37.68
161 Carlos Zarate (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 3.39.48
162 David Loosli (Swi) Lampre-Fondital 3.42.77
DNS Bas Giling (Ned) T-Mobile
DNS Robert Förster (Ger) Gerolsteiner
DNS Fred Rodriguez (USA) Davitamon-Lotto
DNS Alberto Curtolo (Ita) Liquigas

GC:
1 George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel 13:32'35"
2 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner 0.03
3 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas 0.11
4 Iván Gutiérrez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 0.15
5 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas 0.31
6 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Française Des Jeux 0.32
7 Joost Posthuma (Ned) Rabobank 0.34
8 Alexei Markov (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 0.50
9 Juan Antonio Flecha (Spa) Rabobank 0.51
10 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 0.52
11 Thomas Dekker (Ned) Rabobank 0.54
12 Steffen Wesemann (Swi) T-Mobile 0.55
13 Leif Hoste (Bel) Discovery Channel 0.56
14 Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) Skil-Shimano 0.57
15 Bram Tankink (Ned) Quick-Step 1.00
16 Olaf Pollack (Ger) T-Mobile 1.02
17 Johan Van Summeren (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto 1.04
18 Servais Knaven (Ned) Quick-Step 1.08
19 Didier Rous (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 1.09
20 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick-Step 1.10
21 Karsten Kroon (Ned) Team CSC 1.11
22 Juan Carlos Dominguez (Spa) Unibet.com
23 Fabrizio Guidi (Ita) Phonak 1.13
24 Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Liquigas 1.14
25 Aart Vierhouten (Ned) Skil-Shimano 1.26
26 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel 1.27
27 Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) Crédit Agricole 1.32
28 Gustav Erik Larsson (Swe) Française Des Jeux 1.42
29 Baden Cooke (Aus) Unibet.com
30 Volodymyr Bileka (Ukr) Discovery Channel 1.43