Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team rider Alessandro Petacchi was the top finisher of 175.3km Eneco Tour Stage 1 on Monday, finishing 9th. Eneco Tour is his first stage race with the team.
Mark Renshaw (Belkin) attacked and was able to hold off the charging group in the final kilometer for the victory. Andre Greipel (GER) was 2nd, Giacomo Nizzolo (Radioshack-Leopard) was 3rd.
OPQS looks next to a 176.9km Stage 2 on Tuesday.
"Today my role was to stay with Gert Steegmans and try to do a good job for him for the sprint," Petacchi said. "But in the end we got lost in the final. I was in front and tried to stay there and do the sprint. Then when the real sprint started I was a little bit closed off. I finished 9th but it's not important today how I finished. I was a little bit excited about this race, to be honest. For me it was like the first day of school and I think the first day went well. I have to say the feeling was really good. It was the first race and I had a good feeling over the long distance, like a normal stage. I am happy and hope to continue like that. Even the team was extraordinary. It is really nice to be on a team like this. In the final everyone gave me a little help with tips and advice during the race. I felt immediately a part of this team."
"I have to say also that my Specialized bike was really good," Petacchi said. "I rode this bike during training but never with this setup for the race with these kind of wheels and such. I have to say, you can really drive and be aggressive on your bike with Specialized. It's stiff, it's fast — I have everything."
