Discovery Channel’s Max van Heeswijk won Thursday’s first stage of the Tour of Benelux, a 189.4km leg between Geel and Mierlo.

Van Heeswijk outsprinted Marco Zanotti (Liquigas-Bianchi) and Steven de Jongh (Rabobank) to win the stage and take the overall lead from prologue winner Rik Verbrugghe (Quick Step), who slipped to second overall.

"At last," Van Heeswijk said with a smile after his first stage win in a season blighted by family problems.

Discovery Channel's assistant sports manager, Dirk Demol, also was pleased.

"Max has struggled a bit to find his form this season but it's good to see him back on the podium," said Demol. "It's been an off season for him so far but to win in your home country is always nice. Plus, it's a ProTour event, so that makes it more important for him and the team.

"I can tell you, I haven't seen him as happy as he was today in a long time. You are always happy to win, but maybe this win can turn around his season. He has worked hard to get better bit by bit and I can tell you this - this will not be his last win of the year. It's his first but it won't be his last - that is clear to me."

Friday's second stage is a 178km run between Geldrop and Sittard-Geleen.

Stage 1 results
1. Max van Heeswijk (Ned), Discovery Channel, 4:20:08
2. Marco Zanotti (I), Liquigas-Bianchi, same time
3. Steven de Jongh (Ned), Rabobank, s.t.
4. Giosue Bonomi (I), Lampre-Caffita, s.t.
5. Erik Zabel (G), T-Mobile, s.t.
6. Manuele Mori (I), Saunier Duval-Prodir, s.t.
7. Rene Haselbacher (A), Gerolsteiner, s.t.
8. Uros Murn (Slo), Phonak, s.t.
9. Aart Vierhouten (Ned), Davitamon-Lotto, s.t.
10. Allan Davis (Aus), Liberty Seguros, s.t.

Overall
1. Max van Heeswijk (Ned), Discovery Channel, 4:26:51
2. Rik Verbrugghe (B), Quick Step, at 0:01
3. Carlos Barredo (Sp), Liberty Seguros, at 0:11
4. Roger Hammond (GB), Discovery Channel, s.t.
5. Stefan van Dicjk (Ned), MrBookmaker, s.t.
6. Kevin van Impe (B), Chocolade Jacques, s.t.
7. Servais Knaven (Ned), Quick Step, at 0:12
8. Uwe Peschel (G), Gerolsteiner, s.t.
9. Stijn Devolder (B), Discovery Channel, s.t.
10. Rudi Kemna (Ned), Shimano-Memory Corp., s.t