BinckBank Tour 2019: New leader Wellens wins three-up sprint

Tim Wellens wins the pre-decisive stage around Houffalize in the Ardennes. He outguns Marc Hirschi and Laurens De Plus to take the race lead. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 4th stage BinckBank Tour 2019

1. Tim Wellens (bel)
2. Marc Hirschi (swi) s.t.
3. Laurens De Plus (bel) + 0.05
4. Iván Garcia (spa) + 0.23
5. Oliver Naesen (bel) z.t
6. Michael Valgren (den) + 0.26
7. Mike Teunissen (nld) s.t.
8. Søren Kragh Andersen (den) + 0.33
9. Dion Smith (nzl) s.t.
10. Greg Van Avermaet (bel) s.t.

GC after stage 4
1. Tim Wellens (bel)
2. Marc Hirschi (swi) + 0.04
3. Laurens De Plus (bel) + 0.14
4. Iván Garcia (spa) + 0.36
5. Oliver Naesen (bel) + 0.39
6. Michael Valgren (den) + 0.42
7. Mike Teunissen (nld) + 0.45
8. Greg Van Avermaet (bel) + 0.49
9. Simon Clarke (aus) s.t.
10. Søren Kragh Andersen (den) s.t.

Race report
Keisse and Dewulf launch the first attack. The duo opens up a gap of 3 minutes before a group with Wellens, Stybar, Van Avermaet, De Plus, Kragh Andersen, McCarthy and Clarke bridges across in the second lap.

Wellens accelerates when the remnants of the peloton almost bridges across. The former winner stops his efforts with 33 kilometres remaining.

The front group features approximately 30 riders with one lap to go, while De Plus, Wellens and Hirschi open up a gap on the ensuing Côte de Saint-Roch. García bridges across.

Wellens gains 6 seconds in the Golden Kilometre, De Plus 5, Hirschi 4 and García 3.

On the Côte Achouffe De Plus opens up a gap, but Hirschi and Wellens regain contact. Naesen and Valgren go after them inside the last 10 kilometres and they catch García to push on together, without making it back to the front of the race though.

De Plus can’t follow when Hirschi opens the sprint, but Wellens matches the World Champion in the Under-23 category. He comes around him with a few centimetres to snatch the victory and take the race lead.

Another interesting read: route 4th stage 2019 BinckBank Tour.