Eneco Tour (st. 6)

Maiden professional win neglects to Spaniard from Movistar Team after courageous race at Eneco Tour's Liège resemblance. López (SKY) wins; Dumoulin (ARG) takes the lead

Ángel Madrazo’s dream to raise his arms at last in the elite ranks keeps resisting to him. The Sparrow claimed 6th today in the penultimate stage of the 2013 Eneco Tour, over 150km of hilly roads from Riemst to Aywaille, with eleven cols -including three passages of the mythical Côte de La Redoute- and lots of attacks causing a change in the race leadership, now on the shoulders of Dutchman Tom Dumoulin (ARG).

Madrazo made it into an 11-man breakaway forming after 50km of furious racing. The group would progressively break into the climbs, with only three riders ultimately staying at front with 15k to go: López (SKY), Paterski (CAN) and the Spaniard, who gathered one minute of advantage against a charging group of favourites.

Despite López trying first hand to launch the sprint, with the favourites sighting them, Madrazo tried to attack and take the lead, but his valiant move was reached down by López and also beat by peloton finishers Stybar (OPQ), Paterski, Dumoulin and Bakelants, leaving the Cantabrian in 6th. Sunday will be a day for bouncing back from misfortune, with the hardest stage of the race over 208km between Tienen and Geraardsbergen, including three passages over the Kapelmuur and two over the Bosberg out of nine climbs.