Joy & Sorrow
Lieuwe Westra (Astana) and Jan Bakelants (OPQS) got rid of their third fellow attacker, Pim Ligthart (Lotto-Belisol) so that they could get the stage win they were both so desperately seeking. At about 1.2 K left to go the pair came to a virtual stand still, a track stand, each trying to get the other to make the first move. It is much easier to win from the pack of the group than from the front. From the back you have the element of surprise. As to prove the point, Westra went first after the track stand, and Bakelants was able to get around him in the end to claim victory in Poisy, leaving Westra to clinch his fist in frustration