Alex on the attack at Lanaken’s finale
10 August 2017

BinckBank Tour (st. 4)

Dowsett into late move at day of significant wear, with fast speeds and lots of rain. BinckBank Tour finally into decisive hills from Friday, with Cauberg and other major Limburg hills

In one of those days that leave its mark despite being only a 152km stage -a loop around Lanaken in Belgium's Limburg province-, Alex Dowsett (Movistar Team) tried to surprise the strongest men of the BinckBank Tour with one of his signature, late moves.

The man from Essex jumped off the front alongside New Zealander Dion Smith (WGG) with 13km remaining, once the original break with Greipel (LTS), Ligthart (RNL) and Politt (KAT) was caught. The duo quickly opened a 25" gap, which, however, the sprinters' teams did not allow going further.

As Dowsett was caught 4km from the end, and always under pouring rain which covered the entire circuit, Yves Lampaert (QST) also went on a 'finisseur' action which only the sprinters themselves could neutralize, less than 200 meters before the finish.

Belgian Edward Theuns (TFS) claimed the day's honours as no changes happened on the GC -Dowsett remains in 12th, 18" behind Stefan Küng (BMC); Sütterlin is now 16th at 24"- in the eve of three decisive, hilly stages in Limburg, Wallonia and Flanders. Friday's stage five will feature nearly twenty little 'bergs' in the Sittard-Geleen area (167km), the most known of them being no less than the Cauberg.

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