Jesper looking Good, a top four is definately do-able

First big cobble race of the season and time for Hushovd to find out how to beat Boonen on cobbles.
As always a break has to be established, at least that what everyone thought, but Rabobank have instructed Tjallingii to make sure no one gets away. For a long time he kept a group with Jens Erik Madsen 1 minute in front of the peloton, but then 80 km into the race Tjallingii crash and Boasson Hagen attack. Over the next 20 km and a cobble section 7 decent cobble riders form a group in front, but only for a short while.

With 80 km to go Edvald Boasson Hagen decides to go solo. Either the move of a fool or a legend.
It proves to be the first, as he uses a lot of energy but gains nothing.

One rider manage to surprise the favourites though. Matthieu Ladagnous somehow find the resources to keep everyone behind as he passes the finish line alone. Thor went early hoping to catch Ladagnous on the line.

He ends up being beaten by Boonen on the line. Again.

Results:
1. Matthieu Ladagnous, FDJ - BigMat
2. Tom Boonen, Rabobank
3. Thor Hushovd, Falcon – STARK

3rd is a great result, though. He's on schedule for P-R

3rd. Great job. Boonen still unstopable

Still doing great! 3rd behind Boonen is a good job, Tommeke seems to be too strong at the moment.

Another Brilliant Performance from Thor

Thanks for the support. Thor is doing great but I'm beginning to get tired of that Boonen-character

Aren't we all

Stage 5
Three decent hills today, but quite a long downhill section towards goal. Juul-Jensen will watch out for his mountain jersey and Jesper Hansen will keep close to Valverde in his defense of the youth jersey.
Today Falcon – STARK and Peter Stetina played the roles as party killers. Falcon because they wouldn’t allow a break that could threaten the mountain jersey. Stetina because he insisted that he wanted to go in spite of him being within reach of the jersey. In the end his effort resulted in the peloton hitting the first climb with no break ahead of them. Near the top Efimkin attacks, but he is no threat in the KOM, so Juul-Jensen calmly leads the peloton over the summit getting 2nd place and ensuring the jersey for another day. The 2nd climb turns out the exact same say, and the mountain jersey should now be secured for Christopher.
On the last uncategorized climb Pineau gets away solo, though Juul-Jensen tries to go with him. In the sprint for second Jebjerg does good, but ends up being blocked by the remains for the Movistar train.

Results:
1. Jérôme Pineau, Omega Pharma - QuickStep
2. Allan Davis – Orica - GreenEdge
3. Federico Canuti, Liquigas – Cannondale
10. Kasper Jebjerg, Falcon – STARK
Mountains: Christopher Juul-Jensen
Young rider: Jesper Hansen



Stage 6
The stage is far from flat, but the hills are most likely not big enough to make any difference in the GC.
A 13-man break is allowed to go by Movistar but no Falcon – Stark riders were allowed to go out there with them, so instead Falcon helped Movistar making sure the break never became relevant to the GC.
As no one really worked to wheel in the break it lasted all the way and Gert Steegmans proved the strongest by far.

Results:
1. Gert Steegmans, Omega Pharma - QuickStep
2. Alexander Porsev, Katusha
3. Kevin Hulsman, Lotto Belisol
11. Kasper Jebjerg, Falcon – STARK
Mountains: Christopher Juul-Jensen
Young rider: Jesper Hansen



Stage 8
Pretty much as flat as they come.
Geir Berg went in the break – just in case, but the break was never likely to make it and everything was lined up for a bunch sprint. Though Berg fought to the last moment.

Right under la Flamme Rouge a huge crash splittered the peloton so that only 38 riders finished in the first group. Among those that lost time were several GC contenders. Kreuziger, who were second in the GC even had to abandon 1 km from goal on the last stage.

Results:
1. Allan Davis, Orica - GreenEdge
2. Ben Swift, Sky
3. Victor Cabedo, Euskaltel - Euskadi
13. Kasper Jebjerg, Falcon – STARK







Final Standing:

Mountains: Christopher Juul-Jensen, Falcon – STARK
Points: Allan Davis, Orica GreenEdge
Young rider: Jesper Hansen, Falcon – STARK
Team: RadioShack - Nissan

YES!!!!!

Good race

Brilliant racing

Two more Classification jerseys for the collection

The Team are performing really well at the moment

The mandatory large early break had participation of Magnus Bäckstedt, who lost the others behind on the cobbled sections and was the last of the breakers t get caught.

In the final 20 km a group of 18 riders are to decide between each other. Both Lars Bak and Thor Hushovd was in there along with Boasson Hagen, Breschel and Boonen.
Lots of attacking and Thor went with every single one of them. The final one was put in by world champion Philippe Gilbert, who got a gap along with Breschel and Hushovd. In the sprint Hushovd was a level above the others.

Results:
1. Thor Hushovd, Falcon - STARK
2. Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma - QuickStep
3. Matti Breschel, Rabobank

Super Thor rides again

Finally, Thor beats Boonen at the cobbles!!!!

He did it!

Thor finally gets the win. GO THOR!!

Stage 1
Falcon – STARK fail to get a rider in the break, so instead the riders had to work in the peloton to make sure the break didn’t last all the way. On the second cobble section the work started to pay off as the peloton want to pieces and a 34 rider group was established at the front.

On the hill 5 km from the finish line Lars Bak goes on the attack and Cancellara counters laying the foundation for a hectic final as Quickstep is chasing frantically behind.

In the end yet another sprint and yet again Boonen is the strongest.

Results:
1. Tom Boonen, Rabobank
2. Thor Hushovd, Falcon - STARK
3. Fabian Cancellara, RadioShack - Nissan
9. Lars Ytting Bak, Falcon – STARK



Stage 2
A flat and uncomplicated stage.
Riber-Sellebjerg gets in BOTD, but Lotto Belisol have this one marked for Greipel. Too bad for Lotto Greipel can’t keep up with his teammates on the small hills 7-8 km from goal and loses contact with the front group. Once again it ends in a sprint between Boonen and Hushovd…

Results:
1. Tom Boonen, Rabobank
2. Thor Hushovd, Falcon - STARK
3. Nick Nuyens, Omega Pharma – QuiskStep



Stage 3
Even shorter and flatter than yesterday, but that won’t stop us chasing the break. Today Havard Nybö get in there. And again today Rabobank and Lotto Belisol have everything under control right to the finish line.

Results:
1. André Greipel, Lotto Belisol
2. Seb Vanmacke, Garmin - Sharp
3. Tom Boonen, Rabobank
6. Thor Hushovd, Falcon – STARK



Stage 4 - TT
The last details in the GC are to be determined on this 9 km TT.
When the favourites start Tejay Van Garderen is the man to beat with a time of 12’02’’.
Lars Bak gets provisional 15th 38’’ behind Van Garderen.
Just as Hushovd goes into the last km Cancellara beats the American by 3 seconds.

Results:
1. Fabian Cancellara, RadioShack - Nissan
2. Tejay Van Garderen, BMC
3. Tom Boonen, Rabobank
17. Thor Hushovd, Falcon – STARK



Final standing:


Mountains: Jan Kuyckx, Accent Jobs – Willems Veranda’s
Points: Tom Boonen, Rabobank
Young rider Jan Ghyselinck, Cofidis
Team: Omega Pharma - Quickstep