Eneco Tour (st. 7)

Movistar Team leaves Eneco Tour from the podium as Fran Ventoso takes 3rd in Geraardsbergen; great 6th place from Castroviejo at final GC

Only six seconds kept Movistar Team out from rounding up their victory account of the 2012 season just before the Vuelta a España. Spanish road champion Fran Ventoso went over the podium of the final stage in the Eneco Tour, the most technical in the Benelux stagerace over 207 kilometers between Maldegem and a finishing circuit in Geraardsbergen, with three climbs of the big judge in the race, the Kapelmuur. The squad directed by José Luis Jaimerena always kept compact with the intention of protecting the chances by their two main references, Ventoso and Basque Jonathan Castroviejo, who started the day in 9th place overall.

The last climb to the famous Chapel broke the bunch of about sixty riders -with six Blues in it- coming together, as Ballan (BMC) and Boom (RAB) opened a decisive gap of ten seconds that secured the stage -for the Italian- and the final victory -in the Dutchman’s hands- for the duo, while Andrey Amador and Castroviejo himself, initially left back, bridged fast as a second pursuit group made it just into the climb. There, Ventoso was the strongest into the selected sprint while Castroviejo, on the wheel of the top favourites, eventually claimed a fine 6th place.