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Serguei Ivanov (Team Katusha) won the first stage of the Tour of Belgium in Tervuren on Wednesday, just barely holding off the sprinters after a last kilometre solo breakaway. The Russian had just enough time to raise his arms in victory as the rush to the line came from behind, just barely edging out Rabobank's Graeme Brown, Borut Bozic (Vacansoleil) and Belgian champion Jurgen Roelandts (Silence-Lotto).

"I felt like I was going to win. I was sure in the last 200m the wind was in my favor," said Ivanov, who last year took third overall. "This year I want to try to better my result from last year. I won the stage, so I am already happy, if I can win the whole race it would be fantastic."