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Modern Times, Old Roads | The End
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 14-04-2014 16:57
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Tour de France Champion

Posts: 21379
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Gent - Wevelgem 
Quite possibly the most important date of my season. Gent - Wevelgem suits me perfectly as a rider. I can get over cobblestones but I'm a sprinter mostly. This is a true sprinter's classic. Also, De Ronde and Roubaix are too tough for me, at least this year. Finally, This race starts in my home town, Deinze! I will put in the effort of my life today.
Profile There are cobblestone sections here, along with some steep hills, but the finish is still a far way if you want to make a solo out of it. Gent - Wevelgem is considered a sprint classic. I fancy my fances at a top 15 today.
I came to the start, not at all relaxed. I was nervous as hell, actually. A lot of the people there recognized me, since it's my home town. I really wanted to show these people I could do something today. They've seen me train around town millions of times, now it's time to show them it hasn't been for nothing.
Svein Tuft, time trial beast, was the first to break away from the peloton.
Today was very, very windy. As expected, there started to appear gaps. With 100km to go, the peloton was broken up in 3 big chuncks. I was still on course for a top 15!
Coming up on the final cobbled sections, I came over the top of a small, steep hill in 10th position in the peloton. My legs were feeling better and better and I really started believing in my chances!
And then all hell broke loose. I heard screaming in my communication earpiece but it wasn't necessary, I was at the front row to witness it: "Fabian Cancellara attacks!"
Tom Boonen put his team on it. I was forced to undergo the race. We had neither the number nor the strength to pull back someone like Cancellara.
His advantage stayed about the same. But we were nearing the finish. I was so nervous I thought I would explode!
10 kilometers to go. Petacchi had broken free in the breakaway group. What did this mean? Well, it was the worst possible scenario. OPQS stopped riding immediately and with the breakaway still in front, the first 10 places were gone.
I panicked. There was no other team to pick up the pace. I placed an attack! There were 8 kilometers left.
The peloton hesitated. Lotto finally put a man up to the chase, but I wasn't looking behind now. It was full speed ahead. With 2 kilometers left, I found the breakaway group. I decided to stay at the tail and rest my legs for a kilometer and then make my final move.
Petacchi was still in the front, who could bring him back now?
The breakaway started to prepare for the sprint. I put myself at Guardini's wheel. I looked up and saw Petacchi in the distance. He was really dying, I could tell. Was it too late to bring him back? We were moving 10 kph faster than him now, easily.
I made my final effort with a terribly painful sprint! All or nothing now!
But it wasn't meant to be, not today. Petacchi had built up enough to take the victory. I crossed the line second. I had expected to be disappointed, but to my surprise I made a fist. Wonderful result today.

My family was at the finish, they came up to me and hugged me. "Well done, Matthias!" But I couldn't say anything. I was our of breath. Those final 5 kilometers nearly killed me.
| 1 | Alessandro Petacchi | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | 5h27'52 | | 2 | Matthias Vleminckx | Orica GreenEdge | s.t. | | 3 | Andrea Guardini | Astana Pro Team | + 20 | | 4 | Tom Veelers | Team Giant - Shimano | + 24 | | 5 | Yohann Gène | Team Europcar | s.t. | | 6 | Theo Bos | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 7 | Jürgen Roelandts | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 8 | John Degenkolb | Team Giant - Shimano | s.t. | | 9 | Alexander Kristoff | Team Katusha | + 31 | | 10 | Fabian Cancellara | Trek Factory Racing | s.t. |
Spoiler | 11 | Filippo Pozzato | Lampre - Merida | s.t. | | 12 | Oscar Gatto | Cannondale | s.t. | | 13 | Stéphane Poulhiès | Cofidis, Solutions Crédits | s.t. | | 14 | Sébastien Turgot | AG2R La Mondiale | s.t. | | 15 | Stig Broeckx | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 16 | Sylvain Chavanel | IAM Cycling | + 41 | | 17 | Sep Vanmarcke | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 18 | Arnaud Demare | FDJ.fr | s.t. | | 19 | Adrien Petit | Cofidis, Solutions Crédits | + 48 | | 20 | Geraint Thomas | Team Sky | s.t. | | 21 | Gorka Izagirre | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 22 | Thor Hushovd | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | 23 | Andrey Amador | Movistar Team | + 58 | | 24 | André Greipel | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 25 | Edvald Boasson Hagen | Team Sky | s.t. | | 26 | Jasper Stuyven | Trek Factory Racing | s.t. | | 27 | Borut Božic | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | 28 | Stijn Vandenbergh | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | 29 | Tom Boonen | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | + 1'09 | | 30 | Danilo Hondo | Trek Factory Racing | s.t. | | 31 | Matthew Hayman | Orica GreenEdge | + 1'12 | | 32 | Luca Paolini | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 33 | Bob Jungels | Trek Factory Racing | + 1'16 | | 34 | Zdenek Stybar | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | + 1'19 | | 35 | Vladimir Gusev | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 36 | Dries Devenyns | Team Giant - Shimano | s.t. | | 37 | Lars Boom | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 38 | Svein Tuft | Orica GreenEdge | + 1'27 | | 39 | Steve Chainel | AG2R La Mondiale | + 9'41 | | 40 | Maarten Wynants | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | + 10'31 | | 41 | Mark Cavendish | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | + 10'35 | | 42 | Daniel Oss | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | 43 | Niki Terpstra | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | 44 | Nick Nuyens | Garmin Sharp | s.t. | | 45 | Yohan Offredo | FDJ.fr | + 10'45 | | 46 | Lloyd Mondory | AG2R La Mondiale | s.t. | | 47 | Ian Stannard | Team Sky | s.t. | | 48 | Paul Martens | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 49 | Mickaël Delage | FDJ.fr | s.t. | | 50 | Francisco José Ventoso | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 51 | Elia Favilli | Lampre - Merida | s.t. | | 52 | Taylor Phinney | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | 53 | Elia Viviani | Cannondale | s.t. | | 54 | Tyler Farrar | Garmin Sharp | s.t. | | 55 | David Millar | Garmin Sharp | s.t. | | 56 | Hayden Roulston | Trek Factory Racing | s.t. | | 57 | Johan Le Bon | FDJ.fr | s.t. | | 58 | Lars Petter Nordhaug | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 59 | Pieter Jacobs | Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise | s.t. | | 60 | Jacopo Guarnieri | Astana Pro Team | + 11'01 | | 61 | Bryan Coquard | Team Europcar | + 11'04 | | 62 | Kristjan Koren | Cannondale | s.t. | | 63 | Leigh Howard | Orica GreenEdge | s.t. | | 64 | Jimmy Engoulvent | Team Europcar | s.t. | | 65 | Jempy Drucker | Wanty - Groupe Gobert | s.t. | | 66 | Alexandre Pichot | Team Europcar | s.t. | | 67 | Michael Mørkøv | Tinkoff - Saxo | s.t. | | 68 | Sébastien Chavanel | FDJ.fr | s.t. | | 69 | Frederik Willems | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 70 | Alexey Tsatevitch | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 71 | Cyril Lemoine | Cofidis, Solutions Crédits | s.t. | | 72 | Jarl Salomein | Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise | s.t. | | 73 | Francis Mourey | FDJ.fr | s.t. | | 74 | Yves Lampaert | Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise | s.t. | | 75 | Martin Elmiger | IAM Cycling | s.t. | | 76 | Kevyn Ista | IAM Cycling | s.t. | | 77 | Julien Vermote | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | + 11'23 | | 78 | Preben Van Hecke | Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise | + 11'26 | | 79 | Mitchell Docker | Orica GreenEdge | + 11'46 | | 80 | Aleksandr Kuschynski | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 81 | Jens Keukeleire | Orica GreenEdge | s.t. | | 82 | Maarten Tjallingii | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | + 11'52 | | 83 | Jos Van Emden | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | + 11'55 | | 84 | Jens Debusschere | Lotto Belisol | + 11'58 | | 85 | Marcel Kittel | Team Giant - Shimano | + 12'03 | | 86 | Yauheni Hutarovich | AG2R La Mondiale | s.t. | | 87 | Daniele Bennati | Tinkoff - Saxo | s.t. | | 88 | Rick Zabel | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | 89 | Dylan van Baarle | Garmin Sharp | s.t. | | 90 | Sébastien Minard | AG2R La Mondiale | s.t. | | 91 | Christian Knees | Team Sky | s.t. | | 92 | Nacer Bouhanni | FDJ.fr | s.t. | | 93 | Kenny Dehaes | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 94 | Florian Senechal | Cofidis, Solutions Crédits | s.t. | | 95 | Johnny Hoogerland | Androni Giocattoli | s.t. | | 96 | Edward King | Cannondale | + 12'19 | | 97 | Giacomo Nizzolo | Trek Factory Racing | s.t. | | 98 | Simon Geschke | Team Giant - Shimano | s.t. | | 99 | Laurens De Vreese | Wanty - Groupe Gobert | s.t. | | 100 | Klaas Lodewyck | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | 101 | Pieter Serry | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | 102 | Danilo Napolitano | Wanty - Groupe Gobert | s.t. | | 103 | Juan José Lobato | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 104 | David Boucher | FDJ.fr | s.t. | | 105 | Sonny Colbrelli | Bardiani CSF | s.t. | | 106 | Marko Kump | Tinkoff - Saxo | + 12'32 | | 107 | Frederik Veuchelen | Wanty - Groupe Gobert | s.t. | | 108 | Luka Mezgec | Team Giant - Shimano | s.t. | | 109 | Greg Henderson | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 110 | Nikolai Trussov | Tinkoff - Saxo | s.t. | | 111 | Alexis Vuillermoz | AG2R La Mondiale | s.t. | | 112 | Roberto Ferrari | Lampre - Merida | s.t. | | 113 | Louis Verhelst | Cofidis, Solutions Crédits | + 12'41 | | 114 | Giovanni Visconti | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 115 | Fabio Felline | Trek Factory Racing | s.t. | | 116 | Bart De Clercq | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 117 | Danilo Wyss | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | 118 | Pablo Lastras | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 119 | Thomas Löfkvist | IAM Cycling | s.t. | | 120 | Enrico Battaglin | Bardiani CSF | s.t. | | 121 | Adriano Malori | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 122 | Ben Swift | Team Sky | + 12'55 | | 123 | Dominic Klemme | IAM Cycling | s.t. | | 124 | Morgan Lamoisson | Team Europcar | s.t. | | 125 | Francis De Greef | Wanty - Groupe Gobert | s.t. | | 126 | Ruslan Tleubayev | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | 127 | Alexey Lutsenko | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | 128 | Christophe Kern | Team Europcar | + 13'03 | | 129 | Alberto Bettiol | Cannondale | s.t. | | 130 | Riccardo Zoidl | Trek Factory Racing | s.t. | | 131 | Pavel Kochetkov | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 132 | Michael Valgren | Tinkoff - Saxo | s.t. | | 133 | Kevin Van Melsen | Wanty - Groupe Gobert | s.t. | | 134 | Francesco Chicchi | YellowFluo | s.t. | | 135 | Jérôme Baugnies | Wanty - Groupe Gobert | s.t. | | 136 | Axel Domont | AG2R La Mondiale | s.t. | | 137 | Thomas Dekker | Garmin Sharp | s.t. | | 138 | Fabian Wegmann | Garmin Sharp | s.t. | | 139 | Sérgio Paulinho | Tinkoff - Saxo | s.t. | | 140 | Pawel Poljanski | Tinkoff - Saxo | + 13'16 | | 141 | Matthew Goss | Orica GreenEdge | s.t. | | 142 | Christophe Le Mével | Cofidis, Solutions Crédits | s.t. | | 143 | Stijn Steels | Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise | s.t. | | 144 | Emanuele Sella | Androni Giocattoli | s.t. | | 145 | Edwig Cammaerts | Cofidis, Solutions Crédits | s.t. | | 146 | Valerio Agnoli | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | 147 | Evgeni Petrov | Tinkoff - Saxo | s.t. | | 148 | Matteo Bono | Lampre - Merida | s.t. | | 149 | Peter Kennaugh | Team Sky | s.t. | | 150 | Thomas Sprengers | Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise | s.t. | | 151 | Reto Hollenstein | IAM Cycling | s.t. | | 152 | Diego Rosa | Androni Giocattoli | s.t. | | 153 | Julien Bérard | AG2R La Mondiale | s.t. | | 154 | Daniele Colli | YellowFluo | + 13'35 | | 155 | Enrico Barbin | Bardiani CSF | s.t. | | 156 | Marco Coledan | Bardiani CSF | s.t. | | 157 | Marcel Aregger | IAM Cycling | + 13'40 | | 158 | Alberto Losada | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 159 | Luca Dodi | Lampre - Merida | + 13'45 | | 160 | Frederik Backaert | Wanty - Groupe Gobert | s.t. | | 161 | Jonathan Monsalve | YellowFluo | s.t. | | 162 | Marco Canola | Bardiani CSF | s.t. | | 163 | Davide Villella | Cannondale | s.t. | | 164 | Jan Polanc | Lampre - Merida | s.t. | | 165 | Gang Xu | Lampre - Merida | + 14'05 | | 166 | Niccolo Bonifazio | Lampre - Merida | s.t. | | 167 | Bryan Nauleau | Team Europcar | s.t. | | 168 | Alexander Rybakov | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 169 | Phillip Gaimon | Garmin Sharp | s.t. | | 170 | Amaël Moinard | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | 171 | Patrick Facchini | Androni Giocattoli | s.t. | | 172 | Carlos José Ochoa | Androni Giocattoli | s.t. | | 173 | Joseph Dombrowski | Team Sky | s.t. | | 174 | Jackson RodrÃguez | Androni Giocattoli | s.t. | | 175 | Angelo Pagani | Bardiani CSF | s.t. | | 176 | Alessandro Vanotti | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | 177 | Chad Haga | Team Giant - Shimano | s.t. | | 178 | Stefano Locatelli | Bardiani CSF | + 15'19 | | 179 | Luigi Miletta | YellowFluo | s.t. | | 180 | Jasha Sütterlin | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 181 | Paolo Colonna | Bardiani CSF | s.t. | | 182 | Jens Mouris | Orica GreenEdge | s.t. | | 183 | Perrig Quemeneur | Team Europcar | s.t. | | 184 | Giorgio Cecchinel | YellowFluo | s.t. | | 185 | Yannick Eijssen | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | 186 | Michel Koch | Cannondale | + 16'14 | | 187 | Moreno De Pauw | Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise | s.t. | | 188 | Gianni Bellini | YellowFluo | s.t. | | 189 | Samuele Conti | YellowFluo | s.t. | | 190 | Edward Theuns | Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise | s.t. | | 191 | Daniil Fominykh | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | 192 | Mirko Tedeschi | YellowFluo | s.t. | | 193 | Nicola Testi | Androni Giocattoli | s.t. | | 194 | Guillaume Boivin | Cannondale | s.t. | | 195 | Yonder Godoy | Androni Giocattoli | s.t. | | 196 | Vasil Kiryienka | Team Sky | s.t. | | 197 | Clément Venturini | Cofidis, Solutions Crédits | s.t. | | 198 | Lasse Norman Hansen | Garmin Sharp | s.t. | | 199 | Daan Olivier | Team Giant - Shimano | s.t. |
After Paris - Nice, definitely another big highlight in my young career. I went at the right moment and kept up the effort until the very end. A second place in Wevelgem, wow!
Matthias Vleminckx, we still know you from the Nationale Sluitingsprijs last year, where you took the win by a 5 kilometer solo for Topsport Vlaanderen. This is something else, though. You're on the podium in Wevelgem.
Oh I know. I can't believe it myself. I made the move to Orica - GreenEdge but I didn't know my career would skyrocket like this. I already had an amazing early season with a win in Paris - Nice, but finishing 2nd here in this classic, it's undescribable.
With 8 kilometers to go, you made your move. It looked like suicide at first. Was it planned or just gut instinct?
Well, to tell you the truth, it was my nerves. With Quickstep stopping the chase and the break still a minute in front, I got scared I wouldn't be able to sprint for the podium. I had the best legs I've had all season and I wanted to use them. So I went.
In the end, only Petacchi stayed out of your reach. Do you feel this is a missed opportunity?
No, not at all. If I look at today, there isn't anything that I could've done better. If we took it to a mass sprint with guys like Degenkolb, Kristoff and Démare, I might not even come close to the podium. Today I take the race into my own hands and get rewarded with a 2nd place.
Do you hope to come back here one day and take the highest place?
Well, of course. You have to have a little ambition. I still have a growing margin, I'm only 22 years old now. To win this race is a dream and I'll never stop working until I can make it come true.
Then I'll meet you back here in exactly one year!
It's a date. Thanks.
It's been a mad day. I almost celebrated like I'd won. But in the end, you stay a professional sporter, and you can't be totally satisfied until you win. I look forward to the Ronde and Roubaix and I'm genuinly curious what I can achieve there. One thing's for sure, though. My season is already close to perfect.
Honestly? I rate today's race higher than my win or my yellow jersey at Paris - Nice.
I hope you agree with me!
See you at Vlaanderen' mooiste next week,
Matthias
Edited by Ian Butler on 14-04-2014 16:59
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| cunego59 |
Posted on 14-04-2014 17:04
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Team Manager

Posts: 6546
Joined: 14-09-2008
PCM$: 1290.00
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You call that "quite a nice result"? Well done!
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| The Hobbit |
Posted on 14-04-2014 17:10
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Small Tour Specialist

Posts: 2709
Joined: 18-08-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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Another great result, and, more importantly, a very gutsy ride. I'm starting to like this, a lot 
I hope you continue in the same vein. |
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| tpinot |
Posted on 14-04-2014 17:13
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Breakaway Specialist

Posts: 885
Joined: 13-07-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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You already have a strong list of achievements and I'm sure this will not stop 
Funny that your story and mine are at the same moment of the season but with two years of difference  |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 14-04-2014 17:17
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Tour de France Champion

Posts: 34002
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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So close to what would have been an awesome victory  |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 14-04-2014 18:02
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Tour de France Champion

Posts: 21379
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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cunego59 - It might've been a small understatement  thanks!
The Hobbit - I'll do my best  Glad to hear you're starting to like it!
tpinot - I was thinking the exact same thing  Luckily they're both in a different universe or they'd have to fight against each other soon!
sutty68 - Yes indeed. But we're happy to take a 2nd place there. There will still be chances!
Thanks for all the support! |
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| baia |
Posted on 14-04-2014 18:09
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Grand Tour Specialist

Posts: 5377
Joined: 04-10-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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This is a great result, Matthias is a prodigy..
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| Shonak |
Posted on 14-04-2014 18:34
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Tour de France Champion

Posts: 15579
Joined: 16-07-2013
PCM$: 350.00
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Fantastic result for Matt. Next big flemish hope, no doubt. Newspapers going crazy, internet meltdown on cyclingnews... well, you know the drill. I can't believe what's more surprising and incredible: Matt's second place or Petacchi winning Gent-Wevelgem with a breakaway attempt.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 14-04-2014 19:00
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Tour de France Champion

Posts: 21379
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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baia - It seems he's starting to be one indeed
Shonak - I think Flanders would indeed like this new face. However, with Boonen around, nobody would go crazy just yet about a new guy. (It's bothered me before in real life. If Sep Vanmarcke would win the Ronde and Boonen would fall and break his leg, I'm sure Boonen would take pages 1 - 3 and Sep's win would be on page 4.)
Petacchi winning in the breakaway is an odd thing indeed 
Hold on to your seats, I've got an extremely nice Ronde Van Vlaanderen coming up later this evening (last post of the day, I promise )
Will take a break first, though. Expect it within 2 - 3 hours. |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 14-04-2014 21:30
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Tour de France Champion

Posts: 21379
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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De Ronde Van Vlaanderen 
Welcome to the biggest day of the year. Anyone who grew up in Belgium will tell you there is only one day that matters in the year. Our national holiday is dying a silent death. Nobody cares about the king or whatever. Elections are just a sham. No, there is only one day Belgium is on fire: De Ronde Van Vlaanderen!
Today we all breathe cobblestones.
Profile A new profile, again. The finale features the Koppenberg, two climbs of the Oude Kwaremont and two times over the Paterberg. What can I achieve here today? I honestly have no idea. I could finish 20th as easily as 70th.
Tom Boonen finished 24th on his first attempt.
Van Looy finished 11th on his first attempt.
Merckx finished 3rd on his first attempt.
Johan Museeuw finished 62th on his first attempt.
Fiorenzo Magni rode only 3 Rondes.
He won on all three attemps.
So who am I?
The start in Bruges is unlike anything you've ever seen. The crowd is enormous. Tension is in the air. You see people for miles and miles around. For just an hour, you're the center of the world. Those people, it's amazing.
At the official start, several riders tried to break away. Who wouldn't want to be in the breakaway in De Ronde?
Only after 34 minutes, we had our escapees. The pace in the peloton dropped immediately. Their names?
Vachon
Broeckx
Hermans
Baugnies
Kessiakoff
Gautier
Clement
Boucher
Mouris
I was tucked away in the pack for the first 2 hours of the race. There was quite some wind, it would be tricky today, that was certain.
But I was wrong. It wasn't tricky at all.
It was pure war! More than 100 kilometers to go and the pace went up dramatically!
Attacks left and right! Kristoff and Gatto were only a few of the ones to try.
Meanwhile I was hanging on. I was a bit too far behind to my liking, though. But try moving up when there's a war going on.
OPQS wanted to make the race even tougher and started pulling hard. Everyone was on edge. I was biting down hard from the pain.
There was a crash, and then it completely ripped apart. Groups everywhere, it was pure chaos!
It took a while before I knew what was the situation.
"You and Jens are caught behind. There are about 30 riders in front of you. Try to make the most of it."
Jens didn't have super legs, he came up to me and said he'd empty himself for me. I started the chase of my life. To where? I don't know, as far as possible. There were 30 riders in front of me, but I was sure some were hurting even more than I was.
It was a chase to nowhere, but I kept going and going, passing one after the other.
Meanwhile at the front, two men were heading to the finish. It was a finale you could only dream of. Will Cancellara make it three or will Sep Vanmarcke finally take the big win?
In one of the most tactical sprints I've ever seen (well, on youtube after the race), Sep Vanmarcke took the big one! I'm happy for him!

3 minutes later, I approach the final kilometer. In my mad quest for glory I was in the position to sprint for place 9, nonetheless!


9th.
On the most holiest of days.
On my first attempt.
That's worse than Eddy Merckx.
That's better than Van Looy.
I'm a happy man.
| 1 | Sep Vanmarcke | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | 6h25'56 | | 2 | Fabian Cancellara | Trek Factory Racing | + 3 | | 3 | Peter Sagan | Cannondale | + 23 | | 4 | Tom Boonen | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | + 30 | | 5 | Oscar Gatto | Cannondale | + 2'21 | | 6 | Alexander Kristoff | Team Katusha | + 2'27 | | 7 | Geraint Thomas | Team Sky | + 2'36 | | 8 | Greg Van Avermaet | BMC Racing Team | + 2'43 | | 9 | Matthias Vleminckx | Orica GreenEdge | + 4'25 | | 10 | Maarten Wynants | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | + 4'32 |
Spoiler | 11 | Damien Gaudin | AG2R La Mondiale | + 5'03 | | 12 | Björn Leukemans | Wanty - Groupe Gobert | s.t. | | 13 | Ramon Sinkeldam | Team Giant - Shimano | + 5'08 | | 14 | Matthieu Ladagnous | FDJ.fr | + 6'07 | | 15 | Nick Nuyens | Garmin Sharp | s.t. | | 16 | Sylvain Chavanel | IAM Cycling | + 6'14 | | 17 | Philippe Gilbert | BMC Racing Team | + 8'58 | | 18 | Niki Terpstra | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | + 9'13 | | 19 | Sébastien Turgot | AG2R La Mondiale | s.t. | | 20 | Heinrich Haussler | IAM Cycling | + 9'18 | | 21 | Filippo Pozzato | Lampre - Merida | + 9'28 | | 22 | Sebastian Langeveld | Garmin Sharp | + 9'31 | | 23 | Jens Keukeleire | Orica GreenEdge | + 9'49 | | 24 | Arnaud Demare | FDJ.fr | + 9'53 | | 25 | Maxim Iglinskiy | Astana Pro Team | + 9'59 | | 26 | Lars Boom | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 27 | Stijn Vandenbergh | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | + 10'08 | | 28 | Ian Stannard | Team Sky | + 10'18 | | 29 | Zdenek Stybar | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | 30 | Matti Breschel | Tinkoff - Saxo | + 11'08 | | 31 | Tom Van Asbroeck | Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise | + 11'46 | | 32 | André Greipel | Lotto Belisol | + 12'28 | | 33 | Steve Chainel | AG2R La Mondiale | + 12'47 | | 34 | Jasper Stuyven | Trek Factory Racing | s.t. | | 35 | Luca Paolini | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 36 | Yohan Offredo | FDJ.fr | + 12'56 | | 37 | Vincent Jérôme | Team Europcar | + 13'02 | | 38 | Iljo Keisse | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | 39 | Johan Vansummeren | Garmin Sharp | s.t. | | 40 | Guillaume Van Keirsbulck | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | 41 | Mickaël Delage | FDJ.fr | s.t. | | 42 | Maarten Tjallingii | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 43 | Borut Božic | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | 44 | Johan Le Bon | FDJ.fr | + 13'11 | | 45 | Jürgen Roelandts | Lotto Belisol | + 13'14 | | 46 | Karsten Kroon | Tinkoff - Saxo | + 13'19 | | 47 | Jacopo Guarnieri | Astana Pro Team | + 14'44 | | 48 | Edvald Boasson Hagen | Team Sky | + 14'49 | | 49 | Kevyn Ista | IAM Cycling | s.t. | | 50 | Elia Favilli | Lampre - Merida | s.t. | | 51 | Pieter Jacobs | Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise | + 15'00 | | 52 | Hayden Roulston | Trek Factory Racing | s.t. | | 53 | Ion Izagirre | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 54 | Andrey Amador | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 55 | Dries Devenyns | Team Giant - Shimano | s.t. | | 56 | Bryan Coquard | Team Europcar | + 15'40 | | 57 | Francisco José Ventoso | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 58 | Jens Debusschere | Lotto Belisol | + 15'54 | | 59 | Bert De Backer | Team Giant - Shimano | + 16'00 | | 60 | Paul Martens | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | + 16'07 | | 61 | Markel Irizar | Trek Factory Racing | + 16'16 | | 62 | Adrien Petit | Cofidis, Solutions Crédits | s.t. | | 63 | Preben Van Hecke | Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise | s.t. | | 64 | Matthew Hayman | Orica GreenEdge | s.t. | | 65 | Dylan van Baarle | Garmin Sharp | + 16'45 | | 66 | Tom Dumoulin | Team Giant - Shimano | + 16'48 | | 67 | Mitchell Docker | Orica GreenEdge | + 16'51 | | 68 | Jempy Drucker | Wanty - Groupe Gobert | s.t. | | 69 | Pieter Serry | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | + 16'55 | | 70 | David Boucher | FDJ.fr | s.t. | | 71 | Stig Broeckx | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 72 | Michael Mørkøv | Tinkoff - Saxo | s.t. | | 73 | Florian Vachon | Bretagne - Séché Environnement | s.t. | | 74 | Yaroslav Popovych | Trek Factory Racing | s.t. | | 75 | Fredrik Kessiakoff | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | 76 | Stef Clement | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 77 | Jérôme Baugnies | Wanty - Groupe Gobert | s.t. | | 78 | Jens Mouris | Orica GreenEdge | s.t. | | 79 | Cyril Gautier | Team Europcar | s.t. | | 80 | Vladimir Gusev | Team Katusha | + 17'05 | | 81 | Gianni Meersman | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | 82 | Gustav Erik Larsson | IAM Cycling | + 17'09 | | 83 | Roy Curvers | Team Giant - Shimano | s.t. | | 84 | Laurens De Vreese | Wanty - Groupe Gobert | + 17'15 | | 85 | Ben Hermans | BMC Racing Team | + 17'29 | | 86 | Cyril Lemoine | Cofidis, Solutions Crédits | + 18'03 | | 87 | Giovanni Visconti | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 88 | Dennis Van Winden | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 89 | Florian Senechal | Cofidis, Solutions Crédits | s.t. | | 90 | Kristof Vandewalle | Trek Factory Racing | s.t. | | 91 | Thomas Löfkvist | IAM Cycling | s.t. | | 92 | Jimmy Engoulvent | Team Europcar | s.t. | | 93 | Ignatas Konovalovas | MTN - Qhubeka | s.t. | | 94 | Martijn Maaskant | UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 95 | Alexis Vuillermoz | AG2R La Mondiale | s.t. | | 96 | Daniele Bennati | Tinkoff - Saxo | + 18'38 | | 97 | Tosh Van der Sande | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 98 | Dominic Klemme | IAM Cycling | + 18'46 | | 99 | Klaas Lodewyck | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | 100 | Sébastien Reichenbach | IAM Cycling | s.t. | | 101 | Paolo Longo Borghini | Cannondale | s.t. | | 102 | Arthur Vichot | FDJ.fr | + 19'25 | | 103 | Moreno Moser | Cannondale | s.t. | | 104 | Sander Armee | Lotto Belisol | s.t. | | 105 | Leigh Howard | Orica GreenEdge | s.t. | | 106 | Tim Declercq | Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise | + 19'56 | | 107 | Christopher Sutton | Team Sky | + 20'30 | | 108 | Stéphane Poulhiès | Cofidis, Solutions Crédits | s.t. | | 109 | Yauheni Hutarovich | AG2R La Mondiale | s.t. | | 110 | Jérôme Cousin | Team Europcar | + 20'39 | | 111 | Jonathan Hivert | Belkin Pro Cycling Team | + 20'42 | | 112 | Adriano Malori | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 113 | Kenny Dehaes | Lotto Belisol | + 21'16 | | 114 | Yohann Gène | Team Europcar | s.t. | | 115 | Kristian Sbaragli | MTN - Qhubeka | s.t. | | 116 | Nikolai Trussov | Tinkoff - Saxo | s.t. | | 117 | James Vanlandschoot | Wanty - Groupe Gobert | s.t. | | 118 | Benoît Vaugrenard | FDJ.fr | s.t. | | 119 | Arnaud Gérard | Bretagne - Séché Environnement | s.t. | | 120 | Simon Geschke | Team Giant - Shimano | s.t. | | 121 | Gatis Smukulis | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 122 | Frederik Veuchelen | Wanty - Groupe Gobert | s.t. | | 123 | Zico Waeytens | Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise | s.t. | | 124 | Gorka Izagirre | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 125 | Alan Marangoni | Cannondale | + 22'21 | | 126 | Nicki Sørensen | Tinkoff - Saxo | s.t. | | 127 | Andrea Guardini | Astana Pro Team | + 22'36 | | 128 | Sergey Chernetskiy | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 129 | Bart De Clercq | Lotto Belisol | + 22'41 | | 130 | Caleb Fairly | Garmin Sharp | + 23'02 | | 131 | Jonathan Castroviejo | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 132 | Riccardo Zoidl | Trek Factory Racing | s.t. | | 133 | Laurent Didier | Trek Factory Racing | s.t. | | 134 | Peter Stetina | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | 135 | Kevin Van Melsen | Wanty - Groupe Gobert | + 23'46 | | 136 | Robert Förster | UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 137 | Andreas Stauff | MTN - Qhubeka | + 24'18 | | 138 | Alessandro Bazzana | UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 139 | Linus Gerdemann | MTN - Qhubeka | s.t. | | 140 | Patrick Schelling | IAM Cycling | s.t. | | 141 | Alexis Gougeard | AG2R La Mondiale | s.t. | | 142 | Rory Sutherland | Tinkoff - Saxo | s.t. | | 143 | Manuele Mori | Lampre - Merida | s.t. | | 144 | Tobias Ludvigsson | Team Giant - Shimano | s.t. | | 145 | Alex Howes | Garmin Sharp | s.t. | | 146 | José Herrada | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 147 | Juraj Sagan | Cannondale | s.t. | | 148 | Matteo Bono | Lampre - Merida | s.t. | | 149 | Sebastian Lander | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | 150 | Ben Swift | Team Sky | + 25'20 | | 151 | Fabian Wegmann | Garmin Sharp | s.t. | | 152 | Julien Bérard | AG2R La Mondiale | + 25'34 | | 153 | Lasse Norman Hansen | Garmin Sharp | s.t. | | 154 | Martin Reimer | MTN - Qhubeka | + 27'45 | | 155 | Stijn Steels | Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise | s.t. | | 156 | Christophe Kern | Team Europcar | + 27'50 | | 157 | Luca Dodi | Lampre - Merida | + 27'53 | | 158 | Edward Theuns | Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise | + 29'04 | | 159 | Evan Huffman | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | 160 | Christophe Laborie | Bretagne - Séché Environnement | s.t. | | 161 | Valerio Agnoli | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | 162 | Davide Villella | Cannondale | s.t. | | 163 | Francis De Greef | Wanty - Groupe Gobert | s.t. | | 164 | Daniel Navarro | Cofidis, Solutions Crédits | + 29'22 | | 165 | Cayetano Sarmiento | Cannondale | + 29'52 | | 166 | Nicolas Edet | Cofidis, Solutions Crédits | s.t. | | 167 | Eduard Vorganov | Team Katusha | s.t. | | 168 | Steve Morabito | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | 169 | Vasil Kiryienka | Team Sky | s.t. | | 170 | Chad Haga | Team Giant - Shimano | s.t. | | 171 | Martin Wesemann | MTN - Qhubeka | s.t. | | 172 | Edwig Cammaerts | Cofidis, Solutions Crédits | + 31'05 | | 173 | Benoit Jarrier | Bretagne - Séché Environnement | s.t. | | 174 | Svein Tuft | Orica GreenEdge | s.t. | | 175 | Rudy Molard | Cofidis, Solutions Crédits | s.t. | | 176 | Bryan Nauleau | Team Europcar | + 31'56 | | 177 | Petr Ignatenko | Team Katusha | + 32'00 | | 178 | Clément Koretzky | Bretagne - Séché Environnement | s.t. | | 179 | Maxime Bouet | AG2R La Mondiale | s.t. | | 180 | Luca Wackermann | Lampre - Merida | s.t. | | 181 | Matthew Goss | Orica GreenEdge | s.t. | | 182 | Evgeni Petrov | Tinkoff - Saxo | s.t. | | 183 | Kristijan Durasek | Lampre - Merida | s.t. | | 184 | Tsgabu Grmay | MTN - Qhubeka | s.t. | | 185 | Rafael Valls | Lampre - Merida | s.t. | | 186 | Yannick Eijssen | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | 187 | Louis Meintjes | MTN - Qhubeka | + 33'01 | | 188 | Jonathan Tiernan-Locke | Team Sky | s.t. |
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| welker3257 |
Posted on 14-04-2014 21:50
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Small Tour Specialist

Posts: 2304
Joined: 29-05-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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3 days and already at 7 pages and in de Ronde, wish I had that much time 
Good to see you so motivated Ian
Gig 'em Aggies
Fast N' Loud Cycling Project - ICL
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 29-01-2026 20:20
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Bot Agent
Posts: Countless
Joined: 23.11.09
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 14-04-2014 22:11
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Tour de France Champion

Posts: 21379
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Yeah, I am quite motivated at the moment.
I'm not sure if there's anyone who's entirely up to date with my story at the moment, but that's all right. Just skip ahead if you're behind, I'll be updated the 2nd post with his achievements after Roubaix so you can catch up easily 
Too bad I promised De Ronde would be my final race for today since I'm itching to race Roubaix.
Oh well, tomorrow morning is good, too, I guess  |
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| Shonak |
Posted on 14-04-2014 22:17
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Tour de France Champion

Posts: 15579
Joined: 16-07-2013
PCM$: 350.00
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The past, the present & the future: Boonen, Vanmarcke & Vleminckx
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 14-04-2014 23:58
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Tour de France Champion

Posts: 34002
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Matthias is certainly putting in some Great rides of late  |
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| The Hobbit |
Posted on 15-04-2014 06:56
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Small Tour Specialist

Posts: 2709
Joined: 18-08-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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I'm up to date, but I've got too much time at the moment anyway 
Also, that's a good result, and Vanmarke 
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| TimoCycling |
Posted on 15-04-2014 07:39
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Sprinter

Posts: 1760
Joined: 27-08-2012
PCM$: 200.00
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Damn, a lot of updates lately! 
Great results for Matt! The best result was RVV though, such a chase and still 9th, great promising rider he is turning out to be. Possibly Paris-Roubaix will be even better! |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 15-04-2014 08:02
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Tour de France Champion

Posts: 21379
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Shonak - All in one race  Let's hope that future turns into present soon
sutty68 - Definitely. Orica will be happy with his results.
The Hobbit - Nice to have someone completely up to date  Vanmarcke with the sprint he should've won irl
TimoCycling - There have been some updates...  RvV was pretty good yeah. Possbly even bette than 2nd at Wevelgem, I'm not sure 
Thanks guys. Is it redundant to say I'll try to get in a few updates today?  |
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 15-04-2014 08:12
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Tour de France Champion

Posts: 15066
Joined: 08-08-2011
PCM$: 11500.00
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2nd in Wevelgem is how it all started for Vanmarcke
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| FonsDeSpons |
Posted on 15-04-2014 09:20
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Stagiare

Posts: 160
Joined: 30-10-2013
PCM$: 200.00
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WOW 2 great performances by Matthias, what a season he has so far! |
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| Schleck96 |
Posted on 15-04-2014 09:32
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Protected Rider

Posts: 1410
Joined: 10-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Amazing performances by Matthias, what a start!! |
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