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.
Result
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 Rodríguez
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
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.
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?
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!