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.
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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.
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!
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
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
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.
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.
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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?
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.
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
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!
Gent - Wevelgem 
Well done!
