Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team rider Tom Boonen will wear the leader's jersey for another stage, leading the GC by 1" after placing 5th in a bunch sprint finish of the 184km Eneco Tour Stage 5 on Friday.
OPQS did a tremendous job protecting Boonen throughout the race, and also his GC lead. Gert Steegmans made sure he got the last sprint points of the stage before the finish as the peloton reeled in a five rider breakaway with 17km to go.
Giacomo Nizzolo (Radioshack-Nissan) won the stage, beating Jurgen Roelandts (Lotto-Belisol) by inches at the line. Manuel Belletti (Ag2R - La Mondiale) was 3rd.
"We controlled the race perfectly," Boonen said. "The wind was a factor in the first part of the race, then in the final it was a little bit hectic. It was difficult to keep everybody together. I tried to make the sprint, you know, every little second is important in races like this one. I turned at the last corner in third position, but then the speed went down and a few riders came from behind really fast and I couldn't do better then 5th. Tomorrow will be an important day for me and for the team. I will go full gas, with the goal of a good performance. A place in the top 10-to-15 would be great. I would be very happy."