Phinney takes Eneco prologue; Millar and Thomas in top 10

2011 ENECO Tour prologue

Taylor Phinney took his first professional victory in the prologue of the Eneco Tour in Amersfoort this afternoon, beating Sky's Edvald Boasson Hagen and David Millar (Garmin-Cervélo) by seven and eight seconds respectively.

The BMC Racing rider was the only man to post a sub-7 minute time on the technical 5.7km course, something which noted specialists Boasson Hagen, Millar, Alex Rasmussen (HTC-Highroad) and Lars Boom (Rabobank) failed to beat.

RadioShack's Jesse Sergent set the benchmark time of 7-09, which Geraint Thomas (Sky) fell six seconds short of. Thomas eventually finished ninth, 18 seconds behind the winner.

However, Rasmussen then Phinney eclipsed Sergent's ride, and despite waiting anxiously for several big-hitters to finish, Phinney's time meant that he comfortably too the first white jersey of the race.

Tuesday's stage takes the riders from Oosterhout to Sint Willebrord, and is likely to end with a bunch sprint.

Results
Eneco Tour, prologue: Amersfoort, 5.7km
1. Taylor Phinney (USA) BMC in 6-57  
2. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Team Sky at 7 sec 
3. David Millar (GBr) Garmin-Cervélo at 8 sec  
4. Alex Rasmussen (Den) HTC-Highroad at 9 sec
5. Lars Boom (Ned) Rabobank at 10 sec 
6. Jos Van Emden (Ned) Rabobank at 11 sec 
7. Jesse Sergent (NZl) RadioShack at 12 sec
8. Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto at 15 sec  
9. Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team Sky at 18 sec 
10. Robert Wagner (Ger) Leopard-Trek at same time
Brits
90. Ben Swift (GBr) Team Sky at 40 sec


Taylor Phinney powers to his first pro win in ENECO Tour prologue


Still on good form after the Tour de France, Team Sky's Edvald Boasson Hagen takes second


Parenthood awaits Britain's David Millar, but first he's got the ENECO Tour