4 Jours de Dunkerque Stage 5: Stybar Finishes on GC Podium

4 Jours de Dunkerque Stage 5: Stybar Finishes on GC Podium

Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team Sports Director Tom Steels said yesterday, after Zdenek Stybar's solo victory in Stage 4 of 4 Jours de Dunkerque, that it would be difficult to contest the general classification in Tuesday's Stage 5 on a flat course. Jimmy Engoulvent (Saur-Sojasun) had a 43" lead against Stybar, which meant, unless the race did not finish in a bunch sprint, it would be difficult to get Stybar the rose jersey.

Unfortunately, while the stage was affected by rain, a four rider breakaway was not reeled in until late in the race. This left very little room for anything but setting up leadout trains. If there had been a crosswind, Steels said on Monday, the team would be aggressive and go for the overall victory. A crosswind, however, did not accompany the rain.

Instead, Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team focused on the stage victory for young sprinter Andy Fenn. The train was near the front within the final kilometers, but the team was unable to maintain position in the final stretch. Matteo Pelucchi (Team Europcar) took 1st, John Degenkolb (Argos-Shimano) was 2nd and Danilo Napolitano (Acqua & Sapone) took third. Engoulvent won the overall, while Stybar, who had a very strong five days of racing, finished 2nd (+42").

Fenn was the team's top finisher in the bunch sprint, in 18th place. Stybar was 21st and Jerome Pineau, who also was a highly aggressive rider for the team throughout the stage race, was 24th.