Eneco Tour (2012) Photos Aug 1 - Aug 6

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Bjarne Riis is relieved to have Alberto Contador back in the line-up. He's expecting lots of World Tour points from him at the upcoming Vuelta a Espana.	The press and fans outside of the Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank team bus	And here he is...
Alberto Contador receives a warm reception for his first race back following a Clenbuterol suspension	Alberto Contador looking relaxed and rested as he signs in
The start in Waalwijk, Netherlands	Adjusting his World Champ rainbows from a previous year, Belgian champ Tom Boonen is also in the race	The rollout for a long, flat stage ending in Middleburg
After a crash with 2 km to go, we have a reduced sprint finish	Marcel Kittel (Argos-Shimano) wins in Middleburg	1st Marcel Kittel (Argos-Shimano), 2nd Arnaud Demare (FDJ-BigMat) and 3rd Taylor Phinney (BMC)
	Alberto Contador crossed in 106, in the same time as the winner	Marcel Kittel (Argos-Shimano) bounces back from a disappointing Tour de France
Your stage 1 winner, Marcel Kittel (Argos-Shimano)	Surprisingly, the most aggressive rider on this long, flat stage was an Euskaltel - Euskadi rider, Pablo Urtasun (Spa)

Stage 2:  Sittard → Sittard, 18.9 km  Full Results and Report

Orica-GreenEdge posted the best time	Canadian TT champ leading Orica-GreenEdge to the winning time of 21:09 for the 18.9 km course	There goes Orica-GreenEdge
Tom Boonen and Sylvain Chavanel led Omega Pharma QuickStep to second just 1s back	Omega Pharma QuickStep	Latvia Time Trial Champion, Gatis Smukulis, leading Katusha
Katusha finished 3rd + 2s	Just four seconds separated the first four teams; Rabobank was 4th + 4s	5th Liquigas Cannondale + 17s
6th Radioshack Nissan + 18s	8th Garmin-Sharp + 27s	9th Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank + 27s
Alberto Contador smiling (or grimacing)	10th Vacansoleil DCM + 31s	Despite Taylor Phinney leading the way, a crash early on led to a last place result for BMC + 1:10, which will likely ruin Phinney's chance for the overall
Stage 1 winner, Marcel Kittel, was dropped early on by Argos-Shimano	Your stage 2 TTT winners, Orica-GreenEdge	Jens Keukeleire is now the new race leader as the first Orica - Greenedge rider across the line
The 23 year-old Belgian will be the new race leader as the race heads into Belgium for Stage 3

Stage 3:  Riemst - Genk, 188 km  Full Results and Report

Today's main break escaped at km 25: Alex Dowsett (Sky), Today's most aggressive rider Laurens De Vreese (Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator), Matteo Bono (Lampre-ISD) and James Vanlandschoot (Accent Jobs-Willems Veranda's).	Orica-GreenEdge leading the chase	Jens Keukeleire (Orica-GreenEdge) maintained the race lead today
The sprint finish in Genk	Theo Bos (Rabobank) suffered on the rolling/lumpy course but he had enough left for the sprint finish	Theo Bos (Rabobank) almost sat up too soon as John Degenkolb (Argos - Shimano) was charging from behind
John Degenkolb (Argos - Shimano) attempted to pip the victory salute of Theo Bos (Rabobank)	Theo Bos (Rabobank) wins Stage 3 ahead of John Degenkolb (Argos - Shimano) and Heinrich Haussler (Garmin-Sharp)	John Degenkolb (Argos - Shimano) was still throwing his bike well past the finish
Dutch winner in Belgium; Theo Bos (Rabobank) wins stage 3	First career win in Belgium for Theo Bos (Rabobank)	Jens Keukeleire (Orica-GreenEdge) retains the race lead

Stage 4:  Heers → Bergen op Zoom, 213 km  Full Results and Report

The morning sign-in in Heers, Belgium	Tom Boonen	Alberto Contador signing-in
Alberto Contador	Jens Keukeleire (Orica-GreenEdge) rolling out for his last day in the leader's jersey	Tom Boonen picked up two important intermediate sprint bonus seconds
The sprint finish in Bergen op Zoom	Marcel Kittel (Argos-Shimano) takes out his second win this week	Close-up: 2nd Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team, 3rd Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) RadioShack-Nissan, 4th Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quickstep, 5th Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha Team,
	Your stage 4 winner, Marcel Kittel (Argos-Shimano)	Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-Quickstep) is the new race leader by 1s thanks to his 4th place finish and two intermediate sprint bonus seconds

Stage 5:  Hoogerheide → Aalter, 185 km  Full Results and Report

Alberto Contador arriving at the cobbled start in Hoogerheide, Belgium	Race leader Tom Boonen signing-in	Marcel Kittel and Tom Boonen at the stage 5 start
Rolling out for a flat stage	Sprint finish in Aalter, Belgium as expected
It came down to a battle between two riders	Bike throw, photo finish between Jurgen Roelandts (Lotto Belisol) and Giacomo Nizzolo (RadioShack-Nissan)	Too close to call
Race leader Tom Boonen bumps with Arnaud Demare (FDJ-BigMat) as he crossed the line for 5th	Jurgen Roelandts (Lotto Belisol) thinks he won...	Giacomo Nizzolo's (RadioShack-Nissan) belated victory salute on the podium after he was declared the stage 5 winner
3rd career win for 2nd year pro, 23 year-old Italian Giacomo Nizzolo (RadioShack-Nissan)	Giacomo Nizzolo (RadioShack-Nissan) is also the points leader now	Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-Quickstep) retains the race lead in his home country

Stage 6:  Ardooie 17.4 km ITT  Full Results and Report

Svein Tuft (Orica-GreenEdge) wins the flat 17.4 km, out and back course in 20:25	Taylor Phinney (BMC) went out early and set a best time before it was beat to by Svein Tuft	Taylor Phinney (BMC Racing) on the back leg. He finished 2nd + 5s.
3rd Lars Boom (Rabobank) + 6s. He's now 2nd overall + 4s and he'll be a threat for the overall win on the final stage which will do many climbs from the Tour of Flanders.	4th Lieuwe Westra (Vacansoleil-DCM) + 18s	5th Adriano Malori (Lampre-ISD) +19s
6th Sylvain Chavanel (Omega Pharma QuickStep) + 20s	Sylvain Chavanel, the French champion, on the return leg	7th Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank) + 22s
8th Luke Durbridge (Orica-GreenEdge) + 25s	The morning race leader, Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma QuickStep), finished 29th + 1:01 and is now well out of the lead	Your stage 6 ITT winner, Svein Tuft (Orica-GreenEdge), the Canadian TT champ. Too bad he didn't represent Canada at the Olympics.
Svein Tuft (Orica-GreenEdge) dons the leader's jersey	Just one stage to go, but it's a Tour of Flanders doozy and it will be tough for Svein Tuft to finish off the overall win. Lars Boom is 4s back and Sylvain Chavanel (Omega Pharma QuickStep) is 3rd + 20s