10 Aug 2017
Sixth for DVP in Lanaken
Related riders
Danny Van Poppel
Danny van Poppel sprinted to sixth place on a tricky fourth stage at the BinckBank Tour.
Wet weather greeted the peloton once again as they tackled technical circuits around Lanaken, ultimately ending in a bunch sprint after 160.7 kilometres.
Van Poppel came from deep in the pack, squeezing through tight gaps to move himself into position in the sprint. Sixth was the end result as the Dutchman ultimately ran out of road, with Edward Theuns (Trek-Segafredo) popping up to claim the victory.
Team Sky held more of a presence at the head of the race, with Jon Dibben helping Bora-Hansgrohe with the chase efforts, before the rest of the team arrived at the front in numbers with 40km to go.
Ian Stannard and Owain Doull put in shifts on the front, with Elia Viviani also helping to string out the bunch late on the final lap.
Late attacks could not prevent a bunch finish, which ensured Stefan Kueng (BMC Racing) retained his slender four-second race lead with three stages to go.
After the stage Sport Director Brett Lancaster talked us through the tactics that went into the day.
"Today was much better," he confirmed. "We haven't really had the opportunity to sprint in the last couple of days. It's been really, really hectic with a lot of sprint teams here. We've been a bit out of position and also had a bit of bad luck. As we saw, Marcel Kittel, (Arnaud) Demare, Andre Greipel - these sort of guys - haven't even been able to contest the sprint themselves.
"Today we went in with a bit more aggressive approach. We used guys up early but we made it pretty hard for all the sprinters. Danny had a lot left in him for the sprint but unfortunately he just didn't quite have the right line. He picked Sagan's wheel instead of Trek's. It was a split-second decision but Sagan didn't really move anywhere. But he was in the mix and a much better result than the other days. The boys all committed 100 percent.
"Tomorrow should be a sprint again. It's a little bit lumpier so we'll see what happens there and it's more of a Classics style finish. It should be a fairly straightforward sprint, but as I said it's been very hectic here.
"Saturday's a Liege-style stage for the climbers and GC guys. We've got Tao (Geoghegan Hart) here. He and Owain (Doull) will give it a shot, and then obviously the last stage finishes in Geraardsbergen in real Classics country. The guys are all up for it. With the way Danny is going he could be good there, and it will be another test for Tao and Owain."
"Today was much better," he confirmed. "We haven't really had the opportunity to sprint in the last couple of days. It's been really, really hectic with a lot of sprint teams here. We've been a bit out of position and also had a bit of bad luck. As we saw, Marcel Kittel, (Arnaud) Demare, Andre Greipel - these sort of guys - haven't even been able to contest the sprint themselves.
"Today we went in with a bit more aggressive approach. We used guys up early but we made it pretty hard for all the sprinters. Danny had a lot left in him for the sprint but unfortunately he just didn't quite have the right line. He picked Sagan's wheel instead of Trek's. It was a split-second decision but Sagan didn't really move anywhere. But he was in the mix and a much better result than the other days. The boys all committed 100 percent.
"Tomorrow should be a sprint again. It's a little bit lumpier so we'll see what happens there and it's more of a Classics style finish. It should be a fairly straightforward sprint, but as I said it's been very hectic here.
"Saturday's a Liege-style stage for the climbers and GC guys. We've got Tao (Geoghegan Hart) here. He and Owain (Doull) will give it a shot, and then obviously the last stage finishes in Geraardsbergen in real Classics country. The guys are all up for it. With the way Danny is going he could be good there, and it will be another test for Tao and Owain."
Stage four result:
1. Edward Theuns (Trek-Segafredo) 3:24:23
2. Marko Kump (UAE-Fly Emirates) s.t.
3. Tim Merlier (Vérandas Willems-Crelan)
4. Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe)
5. Dylan Groenewegen (LottoNL-Jumbo)
6. Danny van Poppel (Team Sky)
Overall standings:
1. Stefan Kueng (BMC Racing) 11:39:31
2. Maciej Bodnar (Bora-Hansgrohe) +4"
3. Tom Dumoulin (Team Sunweb) +5"
4. Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) s.t.
5. Soren Kragh Andersen (Team Sunweb) +8"
1. Edward Theuns (Trek-Segafredo) 3:24:23
2. Marko Kump (UAE-Fly Emirates) s.t.
3. Tim Merlier (Vérandas Willems-Crelan)
4. Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe)
5. Dylan Groenewegen (LottoNL-Jumbo)
6. Danny van Poppel (Team Sky)
Overall standings:
1. Stefan Kueng (BMC Racing) 11:39:31
2. Maciej Bodnar (Bora-Hansgrohe) +4"
3. Tom Dumoulin (Team Sunweb) +5"
4. Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) s.t.
5. Soren Kragh Andersen (Team Sunweb) +8"
