Being a teammate of Marcel Kittel and John Degenkolb, Ramon Sinkeldam doesn't get an awful lot of opportunities to sprint for himself. When he finally gets one, however, he always gives it his all and today he got his just reward when he beat most of the top sprinters at the World Ports Classic.

Ramon Sinkeldam has taken his first win of the season on the final stage of the World Ports Classic today in the Netherlands.

Already sitting fourth overall after yesterday’s opening stage, Sinkeldam headed into the final stage wearing the young rider’s jersey and thanks to his win jumps up to second on GC.

The final stage was another controlled day and never really split up much in the crosswinds. After a problematic finish yesterday Team Giant-Shimano were out to make amends and they did so in style. Nikias Arndt and Jonas Ahlstrand rode with Sinkeldam in the final stages of the race, and had to overcome a small crash with 20km to go. This did not deter them from with Ahlstrand positioning Sinkeldam in the wheels at the front just before the sprint.

Sinkeldam still had a lot to do though with a long, fast sprint but he timed it right and held strong to the line to take his first win since 2012.

“I don’t get my chances very often but when I do I make sure that I give it everything so it is great to get a win here,” said Sinkeldam after the stage.

“It was pretty easy for most of the day until 20km to go where Nikias, Jonas and I came down in a small crash. We had to work to get back up to the front but the guys worked really hard for me and then Jonas did a great job of getting me in the right wheels at the end.

“The sprint opened up with 300m to go and from there it was flat out to the line. It’s my first win since Hainan in 2012 so it’s a great feeling.”

“It was a difficult and controlled stage today with another very fast finish,” said Team Giant-Shimano coach, Rudi Kemna. “Yesterday things did not quite go right for the team but today they did a great job.

“We don’t have that much of a lead-out here but Nikias and Jonas stayed with Ramon and helped each other at the finish.

“Jonas did a big pull in the final kilometres to bring Ramon into position and then Ramon did a really good sprint. It was a really fast finish and the sprint opened up from a long way out but Ramon was really powerful and knew which wheels to be on and where.

“In the end he just missed out on taking the overall win too on count-back but this win is really good for his confidence and will help him to take another step forward in his development.”