Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech) dominated the final stage of the Renewi Tour to confirm his overall title, covering every move from his rivals in a tricky final 10km, before freestyling in the sprint to win at a canter in Leuven.
As several attacks were launched in the run for home, Philipsen stayed calm in the blue and green leader's jersey, making sure he was never far from the wheel of closest overall challenger Jenno Berckmoes (Lotto Intermarché), whose big attack in the final 6km failed to distance his compatriot.
An all-out day of racing and a crash in the last 2km meant that Philipsen was without a lead-out in the last kilometre, with Uno-X Mobility trying to steal a march with a late solo burst from Carl-Frederik Bévort.
However, Philipsen always seemed in control, popping out of the bunch early to launch his sprint, storming into Bévort's wheel and slingshotting out of his slipstream to claim a hat-trick of stage wins and the GC title.
Following him for second were Luca Mozzato (Tudor) and Mike Teunissen (XDS Astana), but neither were close to challenging the dominant overall winner, who celebrated across the finish line.
"It's quite unique to take the WorldTour stage race win, so it's something which I never achieved in the past," said Philipsen after taking only his second pro stage race title and first at WorldTour level.
"It's an honour to win here as well; also, it's my home country, so it was a week to remember and a nice one for the team.
"Every win is important. We just try to give everything from the start of the season to the end. I'm happy with the condition now after the Tour; it's much, much better than I even hoped for. I'm just going to enjoy this victory together with the team."
An attacking day in and around Leuven
The final stage of the Renewi Tour kicked off from Leuven, where the riders would also finish after 183.7km of racing around the host of the 2021 World Championships. A two-man early breakaway of Frederik Frison (Pinarello Q36.5) and Robert Stannard (Bahrain Victorious) attacked up the road from kilometre zero to get the action started.
They led by 2:45 over the peloton, with a group of four chasers soon making it up to the leading duo: Edward Theuns (Lidl-Trek), Emil Herzog (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), Dries De Bondt (Jayco AlUla) and Hartthijs de Vries (Unibet Rose Rockets), to make it six in the lead.
When they joined together with 70km to go, the urgency went up in the peloton, with NSN and Decathlon CMA CGM working tirelessly to try and bring back a 2:11 lead heading into the final 50km.
With 25km to go and not much changing in terms of action, the six-man breakaway remained in front, but with a much smaller advantage of only 46 seconds, as UAE Team Emirates-XRG began to help chase down the leaders.
UAE showed their hand with 10km to go, after Mikkel Bjerg led out Florian Vermeersch for a big attack. This had an impact, splitting the front of the peloton, but the group that went with him was too big, meaning poor cooperation and a quick regrouping.
The attacks weren't done, though, with Pavel Bittner (Picnic PostNL) and Matyáš Kopecký (Unibet Rose Rockets) bridging across to the six leaders, only for the breakaway to be caught entirely when a surge from Berckmoes brought the race leader Philipsen to the front of proceedings.
With a sprint looking certain, the last bid for glory came from Uno-X Mobility's Carl-Frederik Bévort, who attacked with 1.5km to go and had the advantage over the faltering peloton. However, work from XDS Astana kept the bunch close enough, allowing Philipsen to surge across to his wheel and still win the final sprint of a hectic week of racing in Belgium.
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Results
Pos. |
Rider Name (Country) Team |
Result |
|---|---|---|
1 |
Jasper Philipsen (Bel) Alpecin-Premier Tech |
4:06:49 |
2 |
Luca Mozzato (Ita) Tudor Pro Cycling Team |
|
3 |
Mike Teunissen (Ned) XDS Astana Team |
|
4 |
Filippo Fiorelli (Ita) Team Visma | Lease a Bike |
|
5 |
Alessandro Borgo (Ita) Bahrain-Victorious |
|
6 |
Jenno Berckmoes (Bel) Lotto Intermarché |
|
7 |
Marijn van den Berg (Ned) EF Education-EasyPost |
|
8 |
Carl-Frederik Bévort (Den) Uno-X Mobility |
|
9 |
Toms Skujiņš (Lat) Netcompany INEOS |
|
10 |
Kim Heiduk (Ger) Lidl-Trek |
|
11 |
Jon Barrenetxea (Esp) Movistar Team |
|
12 |
Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) Unibet Rose Rockets |
|
13 |
Matteo Trentin (Ita) Tudor Pro Cycling Team |
|
14 |
Siebe Deweirdt (Bel) Team Flanders-Baloise |
|
15 |
Florian Vermeersch (Bel) UAE Team Emirates-XRG |
|
16 |
Tim Merlier (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step |
|
17 |
Robert Donaldson (Gbr) Team Jayco AlUla |
|
18 |
Brent Van Moer (Bel) Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team |
|
19 |
Emil Herzog (Ger) Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe |
|
20 |
Tim van Dijke (Ned) Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe |
|
21 |
Jonas Geens (Bel) Alpecin-Premier Tech |
|
22 |
Davide Ballerini (Ita) XDS Astana Team |
|
23 |
Quinten Hermans (Bel) Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team |
|
24 |
Matyáš Kopecký (Cze) Unibet Rose Rockets |
|
25 |
Pepijn Reinderink (Ned) Soudal Quick-Step |
|
26 |
Davide Toneatti (Ita) XDS Astana Team |
|
27 |
Pietro Mattio (Ita) Team Visma | Lease a Bike |
|
28 |
Louis Vervaeke (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step |
|
29 |
Cees Bol (Ned) Decathlon CMA CGM Team |
|
30 |
Olav Kooij (Ned) Decathlon CMA CGM Team |
|
31 |
Axel Huens (Fra) Groupama-FDJ United |
|
32 |
Mikkel Bjerg (Den) UAE Team Emirates-XRG |
|
33 |
Tom Van Asbroeck (Bel) NSN Cycling Team |
|
34 |
Alec Segaert (Bel) Bahrain-Victorious |
|
35 |
Michiel Lambrecht (Bel) Team Flanders-Baloise |
|
36 |
Tim Marsman (Ned) Alpecin-Premier Tech |
|
37 |
Pavel Bittner (Cze) Team Picnic PostNL |
|
38 |
Iván García Cortina (Esp) Movistar Team |
|
39 |
Igor Arrieta (Esp) UAE Team Emirates-XRG |
|
40 |
Thibaud Gruel (Fra) Groupama-FDJ United |
|
41 |
Julius van den Berg (Ned) Team Picnic PostNL |
|
42 |
Søren Wærenskjold (Nor) Uno-X Mobility |
|
43 |
Matej Mohorič (Slo) Bahrain-Victorious |
|
44 |
Clément Russo (Fra) Groupama-FDJ United |
|
45 |
Luke Lamperti (Usa) EF Education-EasyPost |
|
46 |
Menno Huising (Ned) Team Visma | Lease a Bike |
|
47 |
Robert Stannard (Aus) Bahrain-Victorious |
|
48 |
Senne Thonnon (Bel) Team Flanders-Baloise |
|
49 |
Kevin Geniets (Lux) Groupama-FDJ United |
|
50 |
William Blume Levy (Den) Uno-X Mobility |
|
51 |
Manlio Moro (Ita) Movistar Team |
0:00:40 |
52 |
Abram Stockman (Bel) Unibet Rose Rockets |
0:00:40 |
53 |
Arjen Livyns (Bel) XDS Astana Team |
0:00:40 |
54 |
Markus Hoelgaard (Nor) Uno-X Mobility |
0:00:00 |
55 |
Sean Flynn (Gbr) Team Picnic PostNL |
0:00:40 |
56 |
Storm Ingebrigtsen (Nor) Uno-X Mobility |
0:00:40 |
57 |
Arvid de Kleijn (Ned) Tudor Pro Cycling Team |
0:00:40 |
58 |
Edward Theuns (Bel) Lidl-Trek |
0:00:00 |
59 |
Dries De Bondt (Bel) Team Jayco AlUla |
0:00:00 |
60 |
Vincent Van Hemelen (Bel) Team Flanders-Baloise |
0:00:40 |
61 |
Søren Kragh Andersen (Den) Lidl-Trek |
0:00:00 |
62 |
Otto Vergaerde (Bel) Lidl-Trek |
0:01:05 |
63 |
Aimé De Gendt (Bel) Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team |
0:00:00 |
64 |
Nickolas Zukowsky (Can) Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team |
0:01:05 |
65 |
Johan Jacobs (Sui) Groupama-FDJ United |
0:01:05 |
66 |
Kamil Gradek (Pol) Bahrain-Victorious |
0:01:12 |
67 |
Dries De Pooter (Bel) Team Jayco AlUla |
0:01:40 |
68 |
Aaron Gate (Nzl) XDS Astana Team |
0:01:40 |
69 |
Lionel Taminiaux (Bel) Lotto Intermarché |
0:01:40 |
70 |
Jakob Söderqvist (Swe) Lidl-Trek |
0:01:40 |
71 |
Jules Hesters (Bel) Team Flanders-Baloise |
0:02:02 |
72 |
Connor Swift (Gbr) Netcompany INEOS |
0:02:02 |
73 |
Hartthijs de Vries (Ned) Unibet Rose Rockets |
0:02:21 |
74 |
Mick van Dijke (Ned) Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe |
0:02:21 |
75 |
Tomáš Kopecký (Cze) Unibet Rose Rockets |
0:00:00 |
76 |
Dylan van Baarle (Ned) Soudal Quick-Step |
0:02:37 |
77 |
Silvan Dillier (Sui) Alpecin-Premier Tech |
0:03:00 |
78 |
Fabian Lienhard (Sui) Tudor Pro Cycling Team |
0:03:00 |
79 |
Luke Durbridge (Aus) Team Jayco AlUla |
0:03:00 |
80 |
Lennert Belmans (Bel) Alpecin-Premier Tech |
0:03:00 |
81 |
Aivaras Mikutis (Ltu) Tudor Pro Cycling Team |
0:03:00 |
82 |
Arne Marit (Bel) Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe |
0:03:00 |
83 |
Sam Bennett (Irl) Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team |
0:03:00 |
84 |
Frederik Frison (Bel) Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team |
0:03:00 |
85 |
Michael Valgren (Den) EF Education-EasyPost |
0:00:00 |
86 |
Bob Jungels (Lux) Netcompany INEOS |
0:03:20 |
87 |
Maurice Ballerstedt (Ger) Alpecin-Premier Tech |
0:03:20 |
88 |
Leander Van Hautegem (Bel) Team Flanders-Baloise |
0:03:20 |
89 |
Nils Eekhoff (Ned) Team Picnic PostNL |
0:03:20 |
90 |
Rui Oliveira (Por) UAE Team Emirates-XRG |
0:03:20 |
91 |
Ferre Geeraerts (Bel) Team Flanders-Baloise |
0:03:20 |
92 |
Bert Van Lerberghe (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step |
0:03:20 |
93 |
Martin Svrček (Svk) Soudal Quick-Step |
0:03:20 |
94 |
Elmar Reinders (Ned) Unibet Rose Rockets |
0:03:20 |
95 |
Lorenzo Milesi (Ita) Movistar Team |
0:03:20 |
96 |
Kamil Małecki (Pol) Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team |
0:03:20 |
97 |
Biniam Girmay (Eri) NSN Cycling Team |
0:00:00 |
98 |
Guillaume Boivin (Can) NSN Cycling Team |
0:03:59 |
99 |
James Knox (Gbr) Team Picnic PostNL |
0:04:09 |
100 |
Sebastian Kolze Changizi (Den) Tudor Pro Cycling Team |
0:05:07 |
101 |
Daan Hoole (Ned) Decathlon CMA CGM Team |
0:06:14 |
102 |
Artem Shmidt (Usa) Netcompany INEOS |
0:06:14 |
103 |
Julius Johansen (Den) UAE Team Emirates-XRG |
0:06:14 |
104 |
Lev Gonov (Rus) XDS Astana Team |
0:08:33 |
105 |
Dillon Corkery (Irl) Team Picnic PostNL |
0:10:55 |
106 |
Felix Ørn-Kristoff (Nor) Lotto Intermarché |
0:10:55 |
107 |
Joshua Giddings (Gbr) Lotto Intermarché |
0:10:55 |
108 |
Robbe Ghys (Bel) Decathlon CMA CGM Team |
0:10:55 |
109 |
Samuel Watson (Gbr) Netcompany INEOS |
0:00:00 |
DNF |
Matteo Milan (Ita) Groupama-FDJ United |
DNF |
DNF |
Luka Mezgec (Slo) Team Jayco AlUla |
DNF |
DNF |
Gleb Syritsa (Rus) XDS Astana Team |
DNF |
DNF |
Tim Naberman (Ned) Team Picnic PostNL |
DNF |
DNF |
Jonas Hem Hvideberg (Nor) Uno-X Mobility |
DNF |
DNF |
Davide Formolo (Ita) Movistar Team |
DNF |
DNF |
Nadav Raisberg (Isr) NSN Cycling Team |
DNF |
DNF |
Maikel Zijlaard (Ned) Tudor Pro Cycling Team |
DNF |
DNS |
Arnaud De Lie (Bel) Lotto Intermarché |
DNS |
DNS |
Lukáš Kubiš (Svk) Unibet Rose Rockets |
DNS |
Final general classification after stage 5
Position |
Rider |
Time |
|---|---|---|
1 |
Jasper Philipsen (Bel) Alpecin-Premier Tech |
19:28:57 |
2 |
Jenno Berckmoes (Bel) Lotto Intermarché |
+0:00:14 |
3 |
Olav Kooij (Ned) Decathlon CMA CGM Team |
+0:00:20 |
4 |
Mike Teunissen (Ned) XDS Astana Team |
+0:00:32 |
5 |
Quinten Hermans (Bel) Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team |
+0:00:33 |
6 |
Alec Segaert (Bel) Bahrain-Victorious |
+0:00:37 |
7 |
Søren Wærenskjold (Nor) Uno-X Mobility |
+0:00:37 |
8 |
Matteo Trentin (Ita) Tudor Pro Cycling Team |
+0:00:38 |
9 |
Robert Donaldson (Gbr) Team Jayco AlUla |
+0:00:39 |
10 |
Filippo Fiorelli (Ita) Team Visma | Lease a Bike |
+0:00:40 |
11 |
Axel Huens (Fra) Groupama-FDJ United |
+0:00:40 |
12 |
Marijn van den Berg (Ned) EF Education-EasyPost |
+0:00:41 |
13 |
Tim van Dijke (Ned) Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe |
+0:00:41 |
14 |
Pepijn Reinderink (Ned) Soudal Quick-Step |
+0:00:41 |
15 |
Toms Skujiņš (Lat) Lidl-Trek |
+0:00:42 |
16 |
Pavel Bittner (Cze) Team Picnic PostNL |
+0:00:44 |
17 |
Florian Vermeersch (Bel) UAE Team Emirates-XRG |
+0:00:44 |
18 |
Michiel Lambrecht (Bel) Team Flanders-Baloise |
+0:00:44 |
19 |
Kim Heiduk (Ger) Netcompany INEOS |
+0:00:44 |
20 |
Tomáš Kopecký (Cze) Unibet Rose Rockets |
+0:00:44 |
21 |
Siebe Deweirdt (Bel) Team Flanders-Baloise |
+0:00:44 |
22 |
Brent Van Moer (Bel) Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team |
+0:00:44 |
23 |
Pietro Mattio (Ita) Team Visma | Lease a Bike |
+0:00:44 |
24 |
Davide Toneatti (Ita) XDS Astana Team |
+0:00:44 |
25 |
Markus Hoelgaard (Nor) Uno-X Mobility |
+0:00:44 |
26 |
Søren Kragh Andersen (Den) Lidl-Trek |
+0:00:44 |
27 |
Senne Thonnon (Bel) Team Flanders-Baloise |
+0:00:53 |
28 |
Matej Mohorič (Slo) Bahrain-Victorious |
+0:01:01 |
29 |
Aimé De Gendt (Bel) Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team |
+0:01:01 |
30 |
Mikkel Bjerg (Den) UAE Team Emirates-XRG |
+0:01:06 |
31 |
Michael Valgren (Den) EF Education-EasyPost |
+0:01:06 |
32 |
Jonas Geens (Bel) Alpecin-Premier Tech |
+0:01:19 |
33 |
Vincent Van Hemelen (Bel) Team Flanders-Baloise |
+0:01:24 |
34 |
Thibaud Gruel (Fra) Groupama-FDJ United |
+0:01:36 |
35 |
Kevin Geniets (Lux) Groupama-FDJ United |
+0:02:15 |
36 |
Aaron Gate (Nzl) XDS Astana Team |
+0:02:22 |
37 |
Luca Mozzato (Ita) Tudor Pro Cycling Team |
+0:02:34 |
38 |
Tom Van Asbroeck (Bel) NSN Cycling Team |
+0:03:20 |
39 |
Iván García Cortina (Esp) Movistar Team |
+0:03:20 |
40 |
Julius van den Berg (Ned) Team Picnic PostNL |
+0:03:22 |
41 |
Carl-Frederik Bévort (Den) Uno-X Mobility |
+0:03:23 |
42 |
Biniam Girmay (Eri) NSN Cycling Team |
+0:03:25 |
43 |
Cees Bol (Ned) Decathlon CMA CGM Team |
+0:03:25 |
44 |
Mick van Dijke (Ned) Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe |
+0:03:27 |
45 |
Alessandro Borgo (Ita) Bahrain-Victorious |
+0:03:29 |
46 |
Tim Merlier (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step |
+0:03:35 |
47 |
Luke Lamperti (Usa) EF Education-EasyPost |
+0:03:41 |
48 |
Clément Russo (Fra) Groupama-FDJ United |
+0:03:41 |
49 |
Sean Flynn (Gbr) Team Picnic PostNL |
+0:04:02 |
50 |
Arjen Livyns (Bel) XDS Astana Team |
+0:04:05 |
51 |
Tim Marsman (Ned) Alpecin-Premier Tech |
+0:04:16 |
52 |
Samuel Watson (Gbr) Netcompany INEOS |
+0:05:01 |
53 |
Connor Swift (Gbr) Netcompany INEOS |
+0:05:35 |
54 |
Dries De Bondt (Bel) Team Jayco AlUla |
+0:06:00 |
55 |
Robert Stannard (Aus) Bahrain-Victorious |
+0:06:20 |
56 |
Lorenzo Milesi (Ita) Movistar Team |
+0:06:49 |
57 |
Louis Vervaeke (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step |
+0:06:49 |
58 |
Daan Hoole (Ned) Decathlon CMA CGM Team |
+0:07:20 |
59 |
Ferre Geeraerts (Bel) Team Flanders-Baloise |
+0:08:00 |
60 |
Davide Ballerini (Ita) XDS Astana Team |
+0:08:35 |
61 |
Johan Jacobs (Sui) Groupama-FDJ United |
+0:08:58 |
62 |
Nickolas Zukowsky (Can) Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team |
+0:09:14 |
63 |
Manlio Moro (Ita) Movistar Team |
+0:09:41 |
64 |
Arne Marit (Bel) Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe |
+0:10:03 |
65 |
Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) Unibet Rose Rockets |
+0:11:15 |
66 |
Menno Huising (Ned) Team Visma | Lease a Bike |
+0:11:15 |
67 |
Igor Arrieta (Esp) UAE Team Emirates-XRG |
+0:11:24 |
68 |
Hartthijs de Vries (Ned) Unibet Rose Rockets |
+0:11:46 |
69 |
Emil Herzog (Ger) Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe |
+0:11:52 |
70 |
Edward Theuns (Bel) Lidl-Trek |
+0:12:31 |
71 |
William Blume Levy (Den) Uno-X Mobility |
+0:12:35 |
72 |
Frederik Frison (Bel) Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team |
+0:12:42 |
73 |
Leander Van Hautegem (Bel) Team Flanders-Baloise |
+0:12:52 |
74 |
Jules Hesters (Bel) Team Flanders-Baloise |
+0:13:17 |
75 |
Abram Stockman (Bel) Unibet Rose Rockets |
+0:14:04 |
76 |
Kamil Gradek (Pol) Bahrain-Victorious |
+0:14:07 |
77 |
Sam Bennett (Irl) Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team |
+0:14:15 |
78 |
Elmar Reinders (Ned) Unibet Rose Rockets |
+0:14:35 |
79 |
Jon Barrenetxea (Esp) Movistar Team |
+0:14:51 |
80 |
Martin Svrček (Svk) Soudal Quick-Step |
+0:15:06 |
81 |
Guillaume Boivin (Can) NSN Cycling Team |
+0:15:14 |
82 |
Dries De Pooter (Bel) Team Jayco AlUla |
+0:15:25 |
83 |
Matyáš Kopecký (Cze) Unibet Rose Rockets |
+0:15:40 |
84 |
Kamil Małecki (Pol) Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team |
+0:15:55 |
85 |
Bert Van Lerberghe (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step |
+0:17:28 |
86 |
Arvid de Kleijn (Ned) Tudor Pro Cycling Team |
+0:17:54 |
87 |
Julius Johansen (Den) UAE Team Emirates-XRG |
+0:18:27 |
88 |
Fabian Lienhard (Sui) Tudor Pro Cycling Team |
+0:18:58 |
89 |
Jakob Söderqvist (Swe) Lidl-Trek |
+0:19:28 |
90 |
Maurice Ballerstedt (Ger) Alpecin-Premier Tech |
+0:20:21 |
91 |
Lionel Taminiaux (Bel) Lotto Intermarché |
+0:21:57 |
92 |
Storm Ingebrigtsen (Nor) Uno-X Mobility |
+0:22:02 |
93 |
Aivaras Mikutis (Ltu) Tudor Pro Cycling Team |
+0:22:19 |
94 |
Artem Shmidt (Usa) Netcompany INEOS |
+0:25:44 |
95 |
Otto Vergaerde (Bel) Lidl-Trek |
+0:27:32 |
96 |
James Knox (Gbr) Team Picnic PostNL |
+0:27:41 |
97 |
Lennert Belmans (Bel) Alpecin-Premier Tech |
+0:27:54 |
98 |
Sebastian Kolze Changizi (Den) Tudor Pro Cycling Team |
+0:28:07 |
99 |
Joshua Giddings (Gbr) Lotto Intermarché |
+0:28:54 |
100 |
Silvan Dillier (Sui) Alpecin-Premier Tech |
+0:28:59 |
101 |
Luke Durbridge (Aus) Team Jayco AlUla |
+0:29:46 |
102 |
Felix Ørn-Kristoff (Nor) Lotto Intermarché |
+0:31:07 |
103 |
Dylan van Baarle (Ned) Soudal Quick-Step |
+0:31:22 |
104 |
Rui Oliveira (Por) UAE Team Emirates-XRG |
+0:31:24 |
105 |
Bob Jungels (Lux) Netcompany INEOS |
+0:31:49 |
106 |
Lev Gonov (Rus) XDS Astana Team |
+0:32:38 |
107 |
Nils Eekhoff (Ned) Team Picnic PostNL |
+0:32:40 |
108 |
Robbe Ghys (Bel) Decathlon CMA CGM Team |
+0:33:55 |
109 |
Dillon Corkery (Irl) Team Picnic PostNL |
+0:38:17 |
