Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team rider Niki Terpstra did his best to try and stay away in the 246km Vattenfall Cyclassics on Sunday, going on the attack out of a strong breakaway with about than 15km to go and the gap less than 25 seconds.
The pain on Terpstra's face was visible as he did the maximum to try and stay away from a charging peloton determined to make the flat stage end in a predicted bunch sprint finish. Terpstra was caught with about 7.8km to go.
John Degenkolb (Argos-Shimano) won the sprint, with Andre Greipel (Lotto-Belisol) 2nd and Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) 3rd. Nikolas Maes finished 7th for OPQS.
Michal Kwiatkowski and Michal Golas also tried to go on the attack earlier in the stage with a breakaway composed of about 14 riders. However, that move was caught with about 51km to go.
