Theo Bos Wins World Ports Classic

Last updated : 25 May 2014 By Covsupport News Service

Belkin's Theo Bos has won the World Ports Classic race.

Andrei Greipel was in the leader's blue jersey for this return trip to Rotterdam from Antwerp and 133 riders rolled out of the Belgian City on a sunny Sunday morning on a 159km stage.

All one hundred and thirty three riders were together as Theo Bos of Belkin took the first intermediate sprint after 15.5kms at Brecht, followed by Porsev of Katusha who reduced his defecit to the race leader to two points after picking up two bonus points in the sprint.

Over the border and into the Netherlands and the first break started up with Pouilhes (COF), Kreder (WGG), Premont (WBC), Pfingsten (RIJ), Thomson (MTN) managing to get clear after 39kms of racing.

Fifty one kilometres were covered in the first hour of racing as the five out front extended their lead to 2.25 which had gone out to 2.35 as they went through Breda before heading for the second section of cobbles at Langeweg.

Premont took the second sprint after 117kms from Pfingsten (RIJ) and Kreder but Jay Thomson was saving himself and went off on his own and was 1.25 clear with 25kms remaining.

Katusha worked hard to bring the gap was down to 15 seconds and then twelve seconds as the race went into its final ten kilometres. 

Thomson was caught three kilometres later and Lotto, Belkin, AG2R and Giant Shimano set their riders up for the bunch sprint which Ramon Sinkeldam of Giant Shimano won ahead of Theo Bos and Henderson.

The time bonuses were enough to give Bos the overall victory ahead of Sinkeldam, Porsev and Henderson.