Ster ZLM Toer Stage 4: Keisse Goes up the Road

Ster ZLM Toer Stage 4: Keisse Goes up the Road

Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team rider Iljo Keisse tried to make something happen in the final 182km stage from Schijndel to Boxten on Sunday.

Keisse escaped with Aliaksandr Kuchynski (Katusha Team), Dries Hollanders (Metec Continental Cycling Team), and Greg Henderson (Lotto-Belisol), quickly getting 50" on the peloton. Their gap expanded to about 2'20", but the peloton slowly reeled them in and after three hours of racing, the gap was back down to 50 seconds.

Only Henderson and Hollanders remained up the road with 10km to go, and as they were eventually also caught, Rabobank and Sky ProCycling began battling for leadout train position.

However, despite world champion Mark Cavendish in 5th position in the last few kilometers, Argos-Shimano aggressively brought Marcel Kittel to the front with 1km to go. He went on to beat Mark Renshaw (Rabobank) by a bike length for the win, with Jurgen Roelandts (Lotto-Belisol) placing 3rd. Cavendish won the overall.

Andy Fenn was the top finisher in the stage for Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team, placing 14th.