The second stage of the Eneco Tour was almost, but not quite a bunch sprint, even if sprinter/time...
Manuel Quinziato (Liquigas) (Image credit: Luc Claessen)
Almost a bunch sprint
The second stage of the Eneco Tour was almost, but not quite a bunch sprint, even if sprinter/time trialist Manuel Quinziato (Liquigas) managed to win it. Quinziato attacked with two kilometres to go in the 194.6 km stage between ’s Hertogenbosch and Sittard-Geleen, and successfully held of the peloton by four seconds to win. Leading the bunch home was Milram's Simone Cadamuro, whose consistency saw him take over the points jersey from Tom Boonen, while third place went to one of Boonen's lead out men, 21 year-old Wouter Weylandt.
Tom Boonen retained the leader's jersey, but Quinziato is now just one second behind the world champion, with tomorrow's 23 km time trial likely to shake things up completely.
"I really needed a victory," said Quinziato, "because in my five years as a professional, I have been close so many times, and I was worried I didn't remember how to win. And I think that now, I will race a different way. I needed the confidence to be ready to mistakes, but [also] to risk more to win."
Simone Cadamuro won the second stage of the Eneco Tour last year, but since then has gone without a victory. "I don't have any more words to say about my placings," said the disappointed Italian. "Not until I succeed to win, and if you look at all my placings in detail, you'll see I've been a protagonist since January...But I have great condition, perhaps my best, and I still didn't succeed in getting anything."
The stage saw a solo breakaway by Luis Pasamontes (Unibet.com) go clear after 58 km, netting the Spaniard a maximum of eight minutes, but he was disqualified by the race jury after shooting through a closed railway crossing. After 120 km, a trio with Carlos Zarate (Saunier Duval-Prodir), Paul Martens (Skil-Shimano) and Carlos Abellan (Astana) got away, but they only lasted until 20 km to go. The final attack from Quinziato came at 2 km to go, and it was the one that worked.
