BinckBank Tour 2017: Stuyven wins in Geraardsbergen, Dumoulin takes overall

The decisive stage of the BinckBank Tour is a Tour of Flanders style classic. Jasper Stuyven brings a late attack home and he is first to finish halfway up the Wall of Geraardsbergen. Philippe Gilbert comes in second and Tom Dumoulin in third. The Dutchman takes his second UCI World Tour race of 2017 ahead of Wellens and Stuyven. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 7th stage 2017 BinckBank Tour

1. Jasper Stuyven (bel)
2. Philippe Gilbert (bel) + 0.01
3. Tom Dumoulin (nld) s.t.
4. Peter Sagan (svk) s.t.
5. Tiesj Benoot (bel) s.t.
6. Oliver Naesen (bel) s.t.
7. Greg Van Avermaet (bel) s.t.
8. Matthieu Ladagnous (fra) s.t.
9. Dion Smith (aus) s.t.
10. Dylan van Baarle (nld) s.t.

Final GC 2017 BinckBank Tour
1. Tom Dumoulin (nld)
2. Tim Wellens (bel) + 0.17
3. Jasper Stuyven (bel) + 0.46
4. Greg Van Avermaet (bel) + 0.51
5. Oliver Naesen (bel) + 1.14
6. Michael Valgren (den) + 1.15
7. Peter Sagan (svk) + 1.53
8. Lars Boom (nld) + 1.59
9. Philippe Gilbert (bel) + 2.12
10. Petr Vakoc (cze) + 2.23

Race report
At km 35 a group of seven – Kenny Dehaes, Elia Viviani, Tony Martin, Jay Thomson, Grega Bole, Elmar Reinders and Tim Merlier – join forces to establish the break of the day. Rickaert Jonas and Preben Van Hecke chase them down and with nine the front group races to a lead of more than 2 minutes.

When hitting the Wall of Geraardsbergen for the first time the gap has fallen to 1 minute. Viviani and Martin are first to crest and they push on together.

Danny van Poppel and Wout van Aert attack after the Bosberg. Along with Bole they try to bridge to the two leaders. They succeed in their mission shortly after the Denderoordberg, yet the peloton is only half a minute behind.

Peter Sagan attacks during the second passage of the Wall of Geraardsbergen and he is first to crest. Martin, Stuyven and Wellens are on his wheel. On the flat to the Bosberg a group with Dumoulin rejoins before the overall leader is the only GC-contender to take time bonuses (2 seconds) in the Golden Kilometre.

On Denderoordberg Sagan and Van Averaet attack. Dumoulin, Sutterlin and Keukeleire rejoin shortly after the top, while Wellens and others hook up a little later. Then Jasper Stuyven heads out on his own and he manages to stay away until the finish halfway up the Wall of Geraardsbergen. Philippe Gilbert comes in second and Tom Dumoulin in third.

The Dutchman seals his overall victory with a strong race, while Tim Wellens and Jasper Stuyven round out the podium.