Andre Greipel edges out Edvald Boasson Hagen

Griepel won his second Tour Down Under in January

HTC Columbia's Andre Greipel outsprinted Team Sky rider Edvald Boasson Hagen to win the sixth stage of the Eneco Tour in Heers, Belgium.

Boasson Hagen finished third as Belgium's Juergen Roelandts also slipped past him in the final metres.

The result reinforces Boasson Hagen's hold on third overall, but he is more than a minute off leader Tony Martin and second-placed Koos Moerenhout.

The final-stage time trial takes place over a 10.5-mile course on Tuesday.

The victory was Griepel's second stage win of the tour after his success in Ardooie on Thursday.

606: DEBATE Outstanding sprint by Greipel, came from at least two bike lengths back on Boasson Hagen and won comfortably Esquain

The German, who is leaving for Omega Pharma-Lotto at the end of the season, had his team-mates to thanks as they withstood some late pressure by Team Sky.

New Zealand rider Greg Henderson had delivered team-mate Boasson Hagen to the front, but the 23-year-old could not match Greipel's power down the home straight.

It was really nice to be up there again and the team did another great job for me," said Boasson Hagen.

"Greg was really strong at the end there, but Greipel got himself on my wheel and managed to just come around me.

"It is going to be very hard to haul back the time on Tony Martin tomorrow but I'm going to try my best and I will still be happy if I finish third overall."

The peloton had earlier clawed back Omega Pharma-Lotto's Maro Aerts and Vacansoleil's Sergey Lagutin's break with 19 miles remaining and then held together as it swept towards the finish.