Impressive team work not rewarded in Wallonie
The fifth and final stage of the Tour de Wallonie was very attractive. Several riders tried their luck for the stage win and some of them even thought about the overall win in the stage race. The riders of Team Quick Step were in the front also.Kevin van Impe, Andreas Stauff and Wouter Weylandt tried to set up an decisive escape group, but the peloton caught them quickly. Attempts of other riders were also caught quickly, so the stage ended in a bunch sprint in the streets of Lontzen.
Four escapees tried to surprise the pack with a late attack, but Kevin van Impe, Addy Engels and Stijn Devolder did an impressive job by closing the gap. Devolder lead the group into the final kilometre, where Matteo Tosatto and Andreas Stauff took over to lead out Wouter Weylandt. Stauff did an incredible job, but Weylandt lost his wheel and dropped some positions. Downing took advantage of the situation, taking the stage and the overall victory. Weylandt finished fourth, Stauff seventh.
Result stage 5
1. Russell Downing (GB)
2. Stefan van Dijk (Ned)
3. Tony Gallopin (Fra)
4. Wouter Weylandt (Bel)
7. Andreas Stauff (Ger)
65. Kevin van Impe (Bel) 0.13
69. Matteo Tosatto (Ita) 0.32
70. Stijn Devolder (Bel) 0.39
73. Addy Engels (Ned) 1.57
DNF Kevin Hulsmans (Bel)
Final overall
1. Russell Downing (GB)
2. Marco Marcato (Ita) 0.02
3. Laurent Mangel (Fra) 0.03
38. Stijn Devolder (Bel) 1.15
42. Matteo Tosatto (Ita) 2.32
57. Wouter Weylandt (Bel) 13.12
61. Kevin van Impe (Bel) 13.33
62. Andreas Stauff (Ger) 13.40
74. Addy Engels (Ned) 24.13