Denis Galimzyanov notched the biggest victory of his professional career when winning stage two of the of the 3 Days of De Panne.
Westra moves into overall lead
Denis Galimzyanov notched the biggest victory of his professional career by winning stage two of the 3 Days of De Panne.
The Russian rider, who had been on the podium four times already this season without winning, was thrust into contention by his Katusha team-mates as a bunch sprint ensued in Koksijide and then kicked on to beat John Degenkolb (HTC-Highroad) and Peter Sagan (Liquigas) by a bike length at the line.
Lieuwe Westra (Vacansoleil) was also celebrating as he moved top of the overall standings by finishing safely within the lead group. Overnight leader Andre Greipel (Omega Pharma-Lotto) meanwhile, endured a difficult day and ended up several minutes off the pace.
The weather had been overcast on the second day of action but there were no wild winds to contend with and five riders brought the stage to life by moving clear on short, sharp climb of the Tiegemberg.
The quintet's lead had been cut back to around a minute as they crested the Kemmelberg, but behind them the bunch had temporarily split in three.
The front two chase groups eventually came back together on the long, flat section which followed and swept up the early attackers, but the third which included big names like Bradley Wiggins and Greipel were cut well adrift behind.
Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Quick-Step), Jimmy Engoulvent (Saur-Sojasun) and Arnoud van Groen (Verandas Willems) were the next riders to try their hand off the front and led the field on to the three laps of the destination town which rounded off the day.
Van Groen would end up on his own after Van Keirsbulck and Engoulvent gave up the ghost with 30km to go, and despite a dogged display from the 27-year-old, he was swept up with just over a kilometre to go.
By that point the contenders were at maximum speed and it was Galimzyanov who emerged from the mêlée to seal his landmark triumph.
