Team BMC Racing's Eneco Tour race leader Taylor Phinney stayed safe in today's crash-filled stage 1 of the 2011 Eneco Tour of Benelux and managed to maintain his overall race lead.

Phinney avoided several pile-ups, including a large one in the middle of the field with one kilometer to go in the 192.1 km stage. The former U.S. national time trial champion was active right until the end where he led out the sprint, finishing seventh after stage winner André Greipel of Team Omega Pharma-Lotto who had the needed bit of extra strength in the close sprint to the finish line.

"I was feeling good at the end," Phinney said in the team bus and continued "Rabobank made a big push to try and split the field and I was right up there with great help from Greg Van Avermaet and Karsten Kroon in the final. We had (Michael) Schär, (Johann) Tschopp and (Simon) Zahner on the front all day. I'm really thankful to them for all their help today."

According to Team BMC Racing Assistant Director Rik Verbrugghe his team was strong in helping pull back a breakaway which gained a more than four minute lead. "The guys did a good job to close the gap, along with Garmin-Cervélo and Sky," Verbrugghe said and added "It was really dangerous with the roads today but we kept Taylor safe and that was most important."

Team Katusha's Denis Galimzyanov finished second in today's stage and Tyler Farrar of Team Garmin-Cervélo finished third.

Phinney leads the Eneco Tour by 7 seconds to Edvald Boasson Hagen of Team Sky and 8 seconds to David Millar of Team Garmin-Cervelo.