Van Heeswijk wins Benelux sprint

Van Heeswijk won a sprint finish to take stage one

Dutch veteran Max van Heeswijk, a Discovery Channel team-mate of Lance Armstrong, sprinted to victory in stage one of the Tour of Benelux.

The 32-year-old beat Italian Marco Zanotti into second, while fellow Dutchman Steven de Jongh finished third in Mierlo, Holland.

Van Heeswijk took the race leader's red jersey by one second from Belgian Rik Verbrugghe, the prologue winner.

Friday's second stage is a 178km (111 miles) run between Geldrop and Sittard.

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ProTour Eneco Benelux Tour stage 1:

1. Max van Heeswijk (Netherlands / Discovery Channel) 4:20:08"
2. Marco Zanotti (Italy / Liquigas) same time
3. Steven de Jongh (Netherlands / Rabobank) same time
4. Giosue Bonomi (Italy / Lampre - Caffita) same time
5. Erik Zabel (Germany / T-Mobile) same time
6. Manuele Mori (Italy / Saunier Duval) same time
7. Rene Haselbacher (Austria / Gerolsteiner) same time
8. Uros Murn (Slovenia / Phonak) same time
9. Aart Vierhouten (Netherlands / Davitamon - Lotto) same time
10. Allan Davis (Australia / Liberty Seguros) same time