LANDGRAAF, Netherlands (AFP) - Dutch ace Thomas Dekker brushed off the pain of a crash to grab the overall lead after the sixth stage of the Tour of Benelux, won by Spaniard Pablo Lastras here Tuesday.

Rabobank rider Dekker took the leader's red jersey from Belgian Nick Nuyens, who was forced to retire after a fall 40km into the penultimate stage from Beek to here.

Dekker was a victim of the same fall but despite sustaining cuts and grazes, mainly to the top of his left thigh, he managed to get back on his bike and continue through the pain.

"I hurt my elbow and left shoulder but I'm suffering mainly from pain in my legs. It's painful but I hope it's not too serious," said Dekker who finished the stage among the peloton some 15sec beind Lastras.

Lastras formed part of a breakaway group of 12 riders from the opening kilometres and they went on to build a lead of five minutes on the peloton.

The Spaniard went it alone 10km from the line, and held off a push by Dutch rider Maarten Tjallingii, to finish ahead of Belgian Steven Caethoven and Anders Lund of Denmark.

The race culminates with Wednesday's final stage, a 30km time-trial around the Sittard region, with Dekker's leading rival expected to be Briton David Millar, third in the standings six seconds behind the Dutch rider.