HTC-Columbia’s Tony Martin is the new leader at the Eneco Tour after a powerful performance on the hills of stage three around the Belgian town of Ronse. Martin broke away with Dutch veteran Koos Morenhout on the Mont d’Ellezelles climb and they then worked perfectly together, finishing 1:24 ahead of the chasers. The 25-year-old HTC-Columbia rider from Cottbus, Germany now leads Morenhout by ten seconds.

“I’m a little surprised to be the race leader but it’s a nice surprise for me and for the team” Martin said. I made sure I was well placed on the climbs and then I went with Morenhout when he attacked. We worked really well together because he wanted the stage victory and I wanted to gain time overall. We managed to make it all the way to the finish, so it was perfect. Now we have to defend it and see what happens day-to-day, but I want to win overall if I can.”

The Eneco Tour ends Tuesday with a 16.9km time trial in Ghent. Saturday’s stage is the longest of the race and goes from St-Lievens-Houtem Roermond. It is expected to finish in a sprint and so suits HTC-Columbia sprinters André Greipel and Mark Renshaw.