September 12, 2008 (Jefferson City, Missouri) – On another warm and humid day in the American midwest, Boy van Poppel (Ned) Rabobank captured the fifth stage of the 2008 Tour of Missouri in a wicked uphill sprint into the heart of the capitol of Jefferson City. Poppel took a last minute chance and crossed the line with his teammate Michael Van Stayen right on his wheel. The orange duo just pipped Canada’s Keven Lacombe; which gave the Kelly Benefits Strategies/Medifast squad the remaining spot on the podium.

“Me and (Alex) Candelario were maybe 10th place with 500 meters to go,” Lacombe said after the race. “He took me to the front and did the best job he could. I was at the bottom of the hill first with good momentum, so I went as fast as possible. But at 15 meters to go, they just passed me. It was really hard but our team did a really great job.”

Today’s 174.4km/109 mile ride into the capitol city saw a breakaway of twelve riders establish a healthy gap over the peloton including 2-time stage winner Mark Cavendish (Columbia), Rock Racing stalwart Michael Creed, a pair of riders from the Toyota-United squad (Chris Wherry and Caleb Manion) as well as a duo from BMC (Darren Lill, Brent Bookwalter).

But it was Lacombe’s teammate and fellow Canuck, David Veilleux, who was also in that move that brought the most excitement to the day’s racing, leaping away with Lill just as it appeared the breakaway was about to be caught.

“When the break went I was sure we’d be able to get to the finish line.” Veilleux said of his day in the saddle. “But Sparkasse wasn’t happy about it, so when it came down to 25km and there was just one minute back (to the peloton), I just gave it everything I could.”

After Lill and Veilleux fractured the cooperation that had existed in the break, Creed and Wherry soon joined the two escapees. But not long after, it was Veilleux, whose teammates refer to as the “carcajou” (“wolverine”), who was no longer satisfied with the situation and attacked the foursome with the field bearing down. Lill followed and together the two made a valiant effort to get to the six miles (9.6km) of finishing circuits first. For his efforts though, Veilleux was awarded the prize of Most Aggressive Rider.

“David is just an incredible rider. He had a bad crash just a couple of days ago, but he is a tough kid. We wanted to put him in the break today and he did a great job,” said Kelly Benefits Strategies/Medifast Team Director Jonas Carney on stage 5. “He showed that he is one of the strongest riders in the race. He deserves this Most Aggressive Rider today and he’s got a bright future in front of him. With Keven just getting pipped on the line, it was a great day for a small domestic team like ours.”

It was not to be, however, and the peloton grouped together for three fast laps in the shadow of the Capitol Dome while Missouri Govenor Matt Blunt observed all of the action. Poppel, who is a world-class cyclocross rider and the son of Tour De France veteran Jean-Paul van Poppel, won the chaotic sprint with a terrific show of strength.

By being out in the break today Cavendish soaked up enough points on the road to recapture the points leader’s jersey today. Canadian Dominique Rollin (Toyota-United) retains the King of the Mountains jersey, and Garmin-Chipotle’s Christian Vande Velde is just one stage away from securing the leader’s jersey for good. Canadian Symmetrics rider Svein Tuft holds onto third place in the general classification.

Tomorrow’s stage begins in Hermann, which is hardcore Missouri wine country. The riders will travel 153.6km/96 miles to St. Charles in what will almost certainly be a sprint finish.

Results

1. Boy Van Poppel (Ned) Rabobank 3:48:42
2. Michael Van Stayen (Bel) Rabobank
3. Keven Lacombe (Can) Kelly Benefit Strategies-Medifast
4. Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team Columbia
5. Dominique Rollin (Can) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team
6. Andrew Pinfold (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
7. Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin/Chipotle p/b H3O
8. Danilo Wyss (Swi) BMC Racing Team
9. Eric Baumann (Ger) Team Sparkasse
10. Alejandro Borrajo (Arg) Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light
11. Nicholas Sanderson (Aus) Jelly Belly Cycling Team
12. George Hincapie (USA) Team Columbia
13. Davide Frattini (Ita) Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light
14. Antonio Cruz (USA) BMC Racing Team
15. Luis Hernandez (Mex) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara
16. Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia
17. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas
18. Hilton Clarke (Aus) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team
19. Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin/Chipotle p/b H3O
20. Marcel Beima (Ned) Rabobank
21. Rory Sutherland (Aus) Health Net p/b Maxxis
22. Richard England (Aus) Bissell Pro Cycling
23. Jeffry Louder (USA) BMC Racing Team
24. Tom Danielson (USA) Garmin/Chipotle p/b H3O 0:05
25. Juan Pablo Aranda (Mex) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara
26. Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Liquigas
27. Thomas Berkhout (Ned) Rabobank
28. Benjamin Day (Aus) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team
29. Matej Mugerli (Slo) Liquigas
30. Dirk Muller (Ger) Team Sparkasse
31. John Murphy (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis
32. Svein Tuft (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
33. Jeremiah Wiscovitch (USA) Rock Racing
34. Andrew Bajadali (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies-Medifast
35. Michael Barry (Can) Team Columbia
36. Tim Johnson (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis
37. Marco Pinotti (Ita) Team Columbia
38. Kiel Reijnen (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team
39. Anthony Colby (USA) Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light
40. Thomas Rabou (Ned) Rabobank
41. Eric Wohlberg (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
42. Jonathan Garcia (USA) BMC Racing Team
43. Mike Sayers (USA) BMC Racing Team
44. Oyarzun Carlos (Chi) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara
45. Martin Kohler (Swi) BMC Racing Team
46. Edward King (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling
47. Richard Faltus (Cze) Team Sparkasse
48. Andy Guptill (USA) Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light
49. Jacopo Guarnieri (Ita) Liquigas 0:13
50. Cesar Grajales (Col) Rock Racing
51. Luis Amaran Romero (Cub) Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light
52. Sergio Hernandez (USA) Rock Racing
53. Jeremy Powers (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team
54. Dan Bowman (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies-Medifast
55. Henk Vogels (Aus) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team
56. Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team
57. Bernardo Tepoz (Mex) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara
58. Kai Reus (Ned) Rabobank
59. Christopher Baldwin (USA) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team
60. Danny Pate (USA) Garmin/Chipotle p/b H3O
61. Ryan Anderson (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 0:18
62. Roman Kilun (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis
63. Justin Spinelli (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies-Medifast
64. Jonathan Mumford (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies-Medifast
65. Cameron Evans (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
66. Matthew Rice (Aus) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 0:22
67. Omar Diaz (Mex) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara
68. Daniel Holloway (USA) Garmin/Chipotle p/b H3O
69. Creed Michael (USA) Rock Racing 0:25
70. Ivan Dominguez (Cub) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team
71. Andreas Schillinger (Ger) Team Sparkasse 0:28
72. Will Routley (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
73. Andrew Randell (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
74. Karl Menzies (Aus) Health Net p/b Maxxis 0:31
75. Chris Wherry (USA) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team 0:44
76. Darren Lill (RSA) BMC Racing Team
77. Alex Candelario (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies-Medifast 0:48
78. Brad Huff (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 0:52
79. Jos Van Emden (Ned) Rabobank 0:56
80. David Zabriskie (USA) Garmin/Chipotle p/b H3O
81. Steven Cozza (USA) Garmin/Chipotle p/b H3O 0:59
82. Tom Zirbel (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling
83. Gustavo Artacho (Arg) Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light 1:03
84. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas 1:06
85. Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling 1:08
86. Caleb Manion (Aus) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team
87. Frank Pipp (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis 1:41
88. Garrett Peltonen (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling 2:04
89. Jetse Bol (Ned) Rabobank
90. Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Team Columbia 2:10
91. Lui Colunga (Mex) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara
92. Kyle Gritters (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis 2:14
93. Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Arg) Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light
94. Omer Kem (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling
95. Luca Damiani (Ita) Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light 2:47
96. Gianni Da Ros (Ita) Liquigas
97. Kirk O’bee (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis 4:02
98. Lars Wackernagel (Ger) Team Sparkasse 4:18
99. David Veilleux (Can) Kelly Benefit Strategies-Medifast 5:16
100. Bernard Van Ulden (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 5:49
101. Darren Lapthorne (Aus) Team Sparkasse
102. Rob Ruijgh (Ned) Team Sparkasse 7
103. Sebastian Frey (Ger) Team Sparkasse
104. Scott Zwizanski (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling
105. Bryce Mead (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 9:28
106. Nick Reistad (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team
DNF Jonathan Sundt (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies-Medifast

GC after Stage 5

1. Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin/Chipotle p/b H3O 15:53:55
2. Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia 0:18
3. Svein Tuft (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 0:48
4. George Hincapie (USA) Team Columbia 1:03
5. Tom Danielson (USA) Garmin/Chipotle p/b H3O 1:32
6. Benjamin Day (Aus) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team 1:33
7. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas 1:54
8. Dominique Rollin (Can) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team 2:42
9. Jeffry Louder (USA) BMC Racing Team
10. Michael Barry (Can) Team Columbia 2:47
11. Tom Zirbel (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling 3:11
12. Dirk Muller (Ger) Team Sparkasse 3:18
13. Antonio Cruz (USA) BMC Racing Team 3:23
14. Danilo Wyss (Swi) BMC Racing Team 3:42
15. Marco Pinotti (Ita) Team Columbia 4:08
16. Andrew Bajadali (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies-Medifast 4:40
17. Eric Baumann (Ger) Team Sparkasse 5:05
18. Richard Faltus (Cze) Team Sparkasse 7:28
19. Tim Johnson (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis 7:30
20. Andreas Schillinger (Ger) Team Sparkasse
21. Bernardo Tepoz (Mex) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara 10:30
22. Thomas Rabou (Ned) Rabobank 10:46
23. Omer Kem (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling 14:23
24. Danny Pate (USA) Garmin/Chipotle p/b H3O 19:28
25. Rory Sutherland (Aus) Health Net p/b Maxxis 19:35
26. Darren Lill (RSA) BMC Racing Team 19:53
27. Christopher Baldwin (USA) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team 20:05
28. David Zabriskie (USA) Garmin/Chipotle p/b H3O 20:08
29. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas 20:12
30. Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team 20:34
31. Jonathan Garcia (USA) BMC Racing Team
32. Luis Amaran Romero (Cub) Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light 20:40
33. Steven Cozza (USA) Garmin/Chipotle p/b H3O 20:41
34. Martin Kohler (Swi) BMC Racing Team 20:54
35. Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling 21:04
36. Chris Wherry (USA) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team 21:08
37. Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin/Chipotle p/b H3O 21:14
38. Edward King (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling 21:32
39. Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team Columbia 21:34
40. Matej Mugerli (Slo) Liquigas 21:45
41. Roman Kilun (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis 21:48
42. Creed Michael (USA) Rock Racing 21:55
43. Justin Spinelli (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies-Medifast 21:56
44. Eric Wohlberg (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 22:33
45. Anthony Colby (USA) Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light 22:35
46. Thomas Berkhout (Ned) Rabobank 22:36
47. Daniel Holloway (USA) Garmin/Chipotle p/b H3O 22:39
48. Will Routley (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 22:40
49. John Murphy (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis 22:45
50. Dan Bowman (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies-Medifast 22:52
51. Hilton Clarke (Aus) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team 23
52. Jeremy Powers (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 23:15
53. Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Liquigas 23:21
54. Brad Huff (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 23:23
55. Marcel Beima (Ned) Rabobank
56. Karl Menzies (Aus) Health Net p/b Maxxis 23:24
57. Davide Frattini (Ita) Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light 23:25
58. Kiel Reijnen (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 23:26
59. Jacopo Guarnieri (Ita) Liquigas 23:31
60. Oyarzun Carlos (Chi) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara 23:34
61. Cameron Evans (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 23:46
62. Kai Reus (Ned) Rabobank
63. Richard England (Aus) Bissell Pro Cycling 23:49
64. Boy Van Poppel (Ned) Rabobank 23:50
65. Juan Pablo Aranda (Mex) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara 24:09
66. Matthew Rice (Aus) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 24:20
67. Ryan Anderson (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 24:32
68. Nicholas Sanderson (Aus) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 24:47
69. Michael Van Stayen (Bel) Rabobank 24:54
70. Jos Van Emden (Ned) Rabobank 24:57
71. Garrett Peltonen (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling 24:59
72. Cesar Grajales (Col) Rock Racing 25:12
73. Alejandro Borrajo (Arg) Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light 25:19
74. Luis Hernandez (Mex) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara 25:25
75. Omar Diaz (Mex) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara 25:26
76. Caleb Manion (Aus) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team 25:28
77. Andrew Pinfold (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 25:41
78. Lui Colunga (Mex) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara 26:07
79. Gustavo Artacho (Arg) Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light 26:16
80. Andrew Randell (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 26:35
81. Jeremiah Wiscovitch (USA) Rock Racing 26:49
82. Gianni Da Ros (Ita) Liquigas 26:57
83. Jetse Bol (Ned) Rabobank 27
84. Bernard Van Ulden (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team
85. Frank Pipp (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis 27:06
86. Darren Lapthorne (Aus) Team Sparkasse 27:23
87. Andy Guptill (USA) Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light 27:33
88. Henk Vogels (Aus) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team 27:50
89. Mike Sayers (USA) BMC Racing Team 27:52
90. Ivan Dominguez (Cub) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team 28:06
91. Scott Zwizanski (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling 28:09
92. Kirk O’bee (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis 28:15
93. Jonathan Mumford (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies-Medifast 28:44
94. Alex Candelario (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies-Medifast 28:49
95. Rob Ruijgh (Ned) Team Sparkasse 28:55
96. Lars Wackernagel (Ger) Team Sparkasse 30:06
97. Kyle Gritters (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis 30:43
98. Luca Damiani (Ita) Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light 31:27
99. Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Team Columbia 31:34
100. David Veilleux (Can) Kelly Benefit Strategies-Medifast 33:12
101. Bryce Mead (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 33:16
102. Sebastian Frey (Ger) Team Sparkasse 34:40
103. Nick Reistad (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 35:02
104. Sergio Hernandez (USA) Rock Racing 37:43
105. Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Arg) Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light 39:26
106. Keven Lacombe (Can) Kelly Benefit Strategies-Medifast 45:09