Van Staeyen strikes in Belgium

Michael Van Staeyen has become the fifth consecutive Belgian rider to win the Memorial Rik Van Steenbergen.

Topsport Vlaanderen rider continues Belgian run

Michael Van Staeyen became the fifth consecutive Belgian rider to win the Memorial Rik Van Steenbergen by sprinting to victory ahead of Robbie McEwen (Katusha) and Jürgen Roelandts (Omega Pharma - Lotto). The 22-year-old, competing for Topsport Vlaanderen, battled to get himself into contention on the last of six, 8.8km laps around Aartselaar and kicked on powerfully in the dying stages to claim his second triumph of the season by half a bike length. The 195.9km trek had begun with a 143km clockwise loop around northern Belgium and Klaas Lodewyck (Topsport Vlaanderen), Jurgen François (Palmans - Cras) and Enrico Peruffo (Carmiooro - NGC) had built up a five-minute advantage at one point before they headed back into the host town. The trio were eventually swept up as they began the penultimate loop though, and further attacks from the likes of Marco Marcato (Vacansoleil), Mathew Hayman (Team Sky) and Jos Van Emden (Rabobank) came thick and fast as the race neared its conclusion. Those attempts would also prove fruitless due to the unrelenting pace of the Katusha-led chase pack and the bunch was back together as it pressed on one last time to the finish line. McEwen led out the sprint on the narrow closing straight in the town centre but Van Staeyen weaved his way cleverly to the left of the Australian before producing one final blast which yielded his victory.