We come into this race with a unrealistic sponsor goal of a top 5. Alas, my mind is not on that all my thoughts were guided towards my meeting I had arranged with Sven Nys, our continental team manager, after the end of stage 3.
STAGE 1:Porto Vecchio 93 KM's
Eddie Aurel on the attack! That is right my son got into the break of the day.......
Unfortunately he was the only rider to be dropped from the break, a break which would fight out the stage win after some riders attacked across to the break. Vanendert took the stage win from the break, at last emerging form the shadow of his brother. Yildiz won the bunch sprint for us, a bunch which came home depleted from the cross winds.
The diminutive Spaniard who came to fruition at the Vuelta in 2020 battled well up the final climb and takes the overall title in an exciting and aggressive manner.
STAGE RESULTS:
1
Yeray Garcia
Herbalife
5h04'15
2
Bart De Clercq
TEAM KLM - Microsoft
+ 9
3
Romain Sicard
YouTube
+ 34
4
Staf Baetens
TEAM KLM - Microsoft
+ 1'08
5
Yannick Eijssen
Herbalife
s.t.
6
Julien Theron
Alstom
s.t.
7
Simon Spilak
Auber 93 - BigMat
s.t.
8
Jérôme Coppel
Emporiki Bank - UPC
s.t.
9
Maxime Bouet
Bank BGZ - Schuller
s.t.
10
Michel Foulon
Bank BGZ - Schuller
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Robert Gesink
YouTube
s.t.
12
Yevgeniy Nepomnyachshiy
Herbalife
s.t.
13
Patrice Grandjean
Cessna - Specialized
s.t.
14
Alexandre Geniez
Eurosport
s.t.
15
Daniel Martin
TEAM KLM - Microsoft
s.t.
16
Alejandro de Cuevas
Herbalife
s.t.
17
Raul Mora
Bank BGZ - Schuller
s.t.
18
Ángel Madrazo
LG
s.t.
19
Nikita Novikov
LG
s.t.
20
Ahmed Al Ghanim
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 2'28
21
Andrey Amador
Herbalife
s.t.
22
Sergey Chernetskiy
LG
s.t.
23
Henri Patin
Bank BGZ - Schuller
s.t.
24
Daan Olivier
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
s.t.
25
Angelo Tulik
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
26
Tosh Van der Sande
Herbalife
s.t.
27
Alan Vergnaud
Cessna - Specialized
s.t.
28
Artem Ovechkin
LG
s.t.
29
Vitor Rodrigues
LG
s.t.
30
Bob Jungels
Emporiki Bank - UPC
s.t.
31
Jannick Van Damme
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
+ 3'55
32
Patrice Pion
Alstom
+ 4'08
33
Matteo Desantis
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
s.t.
34
Johan André
Auber 93 - BigMat
s.t.
35
Mikaël Chérel
Gillette
+ 5'03
36
Yoann Barbas
Gillette
s.t.
37
Tim Declercq
TEAM Dexia - Telenor
s.t.
38
Fernando Grijalba
Fuji - Avia
s.t.
39
Kevin Florent
Eurosport
s.t.
40
Sébastian Teissier
Auber 93 - BigMat
s.t.
41
Rasmus Sterebo
Bank BGZ - Schuller
s.t.
42
Johan Le Bon
Fuji - Avia
s.t.
43
Jules Lemarchand
Eurosport
s.t.
44
Florent Pruvot
Gillette
s.t.
45
Matteo Rabottini
Domina Vacanze
+ 5'51
46
Enrico Magazzini
Domina Vacanze
s.t.
47
Rémy Di Gregorio
Alstom
s.t.
48
Vincent Baestaens
YouTube
+ 6'08
49
Esteban Plaza
Domina Vacanze
s.t.
50
Pedro González
Domina Vacanze
s.t.
51
Dennis Vanendert
YouTube
s.t.
52
Gaël Duran
Cessna - Specialized
s.t.
53
Omar Silvestri
Domina Vacanze
s.t.
54
Samuele Rossi
Domina Vacanze
s.t.
55
Luca Barla
Domina Vacanze
s.t.
56
Jasper Stuyven
YouTube
s.t.
57
Kevin Denis
Alstom
s.t.
58
Anthony Delaplace
Alstom
s.t.
59
David Dvorsky
Fuji - Avia
s.t.
60
Enzo Jeannin
Gillette
s.t.
61
Roger Bruyere
Qatar Optics - Duvel
s.t.
62
Matthieu Ladagnous
Alstom
s.t.
63
Rémi Thevenet
Eurosport
s.t.
64
Mickael Larpe
FDJ - BigMat
+ 7'13
65
Simon Daniel
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
s.t.
66
Dries Devenyns
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
s.t.
67
Dylan Pinault
Gillette
s.t.
68
Mathieu Delaroziere
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
69
Arnaud Molmy
Armavia - Provamel
+ 7'33
70
Guillaume Paulet
Armavia - Provamel
s.t.
71
Kristof Vandewalle
Emporiki Bank - UPC
s.t.
72
Gianni Meersman
YouTube
s.t.
73
Olivier Perron
Armavia - Provamel
s.t.
74
Frederique Robert
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
s.t.
75
Nicolas Defrance
Cessna - Specialized
s.t.
76
Jarosław Marycz
TEAM Dexia - Telenor
+ 8'19
77
Dorian Amiel
Armavia - Provamel
+ 8'48
78
Jonathan Dufrasne
TEAM Dexia - Telenor
+ 8'55
79
Valentin Delamare
Alstom
+ 9'12
80
Thibaut Van Gheem
Eurosport
+ 9'31
81
Alexander Debakker
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
+ 9'53
82
Rikke Dijkxhoorn
TEAM KLM - Microsoft
s.t.
83
Manuia Akake
Optics Continental
s.t.
84
Spencer Beamer
Emporiki Bank - UPC
s.t.
85
Gaël Le Bellec
Bank BGZ - Schuller
s.t.
86
Raivis Ritums
Gillette
+ 10'30
87
Robin Stenuit
TEAM Dexia - Telenor
s.t.
88
Samet Yildiz
Qatar Optics - Duvel
s.t.
89
Artem Zaleski
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
s.t.
90
Kevin Peeters
TEAM Dexia - Telenor
s.t.
91
Antonio Cunningham
Cessna - Specialized
s.t.
92
Kyle Stephens
YouTube
+ 11'08
93
Semyon Remizov
LG
s.t.
94
Alexandre Lemair
Eurosport
+ 12'08
95
Marouen Marzouki
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 14'08
96
Rick Zabel
Emporiki Bank - UPC
+ 24'25
97
Yannick Albertini
Gillette
s.t.
98
Edwig Cammaerts
TEAM Dexia - Telenor
s.t.
99
Sebastiaan Maas
TEAM KLM - Microsoft
s.t.
100
Guido Garavaglia
Domina Vacanze
s.t.
101
Dennis Kreder
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
s.t.
102
Stéphane Libert
Armavia - Provamel
s.t.
103
Patrick Crawford
Emporiki Bank - UPC
+ 27'17
104
Aurélien Passeron
Armavia - Provamel
s.t.
105
Stephan Spies
Emporiki Bank - UPC
s.t.
106
Robin Guiot
Bank BGZ - Schuller
s.t.
107
Pim Ligthart
TEAM Dexia - Telenor
s.t.
108
Jarne Baeyens
Qatar Optics - Duvel
s.t.
109
Niels Vandyck
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 40'16
110
Justin Jules
Auber 93 - BigMat
+ 42'49
111
Gijs Bakker
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
s.t.
112
Fabiano Joachim
Emporiki Bank - UPC
s.t.
113
Mickaël Peré
Armavia - Provamel
s.t.
114
Jean-Charles Sénac
Auber 93 - BigMat
s.t.
115
Jean Richard
Herbalife
s.t.
116
Stéphane Grenier
Fuji - Avia
s.t.
117
Aleksandr Chupalov
LG
s.t.
118
Benoît Sinner
Armavia - Provamel
s.t.
119
Christophe Laborie
Cessna - Specialized
s.t.
120
Abdulaziz Al Sahaf
Qatar Optics - Duvel
s.t.
121
Léo Christophe
Gillette
s.t.
122
Antoine Van Snick
TEAM KLM - Microsoft
s.t.
123
Arkadi Novikov
LG
s.t.
124
Guillaume Blot
Fuji - Avia
s.t.
125
Rashid Al Shahrani
Optics Continental
s.t.
126
Maaz Al Hardi
Optics Continental
s.t.
127
Eddie Aurel
Optics Continental
s.t.
128
Will Davidson
Cessna - Specialized
s.t.
129
Alexandre Boileau
Auber 93 - BigMat
s.t.
130
Brandon Morrison
YouTube
s.t.
131
Robert Jean
Bank BGZ - Schuller
s.t.
132
Charles Colson
TEAM KLM - Microsoft
s.t.
133
Rayan Rouault
Eurosport
s.t.
134
Nadjib Bahari
Optics Continental
s.t.
135
Imtiyaz Sulimani
Qatar Optics - Duvel
s.t.
136
Yoann Gillet
Auber 93 - BigMat
s.t.
137
Donovan Arnould
Fuji - Avia
s.t.
138
Robin Duhamel
TEAM Dexia - Telenor
s.t.
139
Hassan Al Temiyat
Optics Continental
s.t.
140
Lionel Ledoux
Auber 93 - BigMat
s.t.
141
Joris de Jong
TEAM KLM - Microsoft
s.t.
142
Ali Sanad Al Hardi
Optics Continental
s.t.
143
Vincent Dufour
Fuji - Avia
s.t.
144
Abdurahman Al Sahaf
Optics Continental
s.t.
145
Vincent Wallace
Cessna - Specialized
s.t.
FINAL GC:
1
Yeray Garcia
Herbalife
7h26'36
2
Bart De Clercq
TEAM KLM - Microsoft
+ 16
3
Romain Sicard
YouTube
+ 47
4
Alejandro de Cuevas
Herbalife
+ 1'05
5
Raul Mora
Bank BGZ - Schuller
+ 1'11
6
Yannick Eijssen
Herbalife
+ 1'20
7
Jérôme Coppel
Emporiki Bank - UPC
+ 1'23
8
Maxime Bouet
Bank BGZ - Schuller
+ 1'26
9
Robert Gesink
YouTube
+ 1'28
10
Simon Spilak
Auber 93 - BigMat
+ 1'32
Spoiler
11
Alexandre Geniez
Eurosport
+ 1'34
12
Nikita Novikov
LG
+ 1'39
13
Daniel Martin
TEAM KLM - Microsoft
+ 1'42
14
Julien Theron
Alstom
+ 1'44
15
Vitor Rodrigues
LG
+ 2'28
16
Artem Ovechkin
LG
+ 2'46
17
Bob Jungels
Emporiki Bank - UPC
+ 2'52
18
Daan Olivier
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
+ 2'57
19
Ángel Madrazo
LG
+ 3'25
20
Staf Baetens
TEAM KLM - Microsoft
+ 3'27
21
Patrice Grandjean
Cessna - Specialized
+ 3'29
22
Yevgeniy Nepomnyachshiy
Herbalife
s.t.
23
Michel Foulon
Bank BGZ - Schuller
+ 3'34
24
Andrey Amador
Herbalife
+ 4'15
25
Tosh Van der Sande
Herbalife
+ 4'28
26
Angelo Tulik
FDJ - BigMat
+ 4'31
27
Patrice Pion
Alstom
+ 4'32
28
Sergey Chernetskiy
LG
+ 4'43
29
Johan Le Bon
Fuji - Avia
+ 4'45
30
Ahmed Al Ghanim
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 4'46
31
Alan Vergnaud
Cessna - Specialized
+ 4'52
32
Johan André
Auber 93 - BigMat
+ 4'59
33
Mikaël Chérel
Gillette
+ 5'01
34
Tim Declercq
TEAM Dexia - Telenor
+ 5'03
35
Henri Patin
Bank BGZ - Schuller
s.t.
36
Fernando Grijalba
Fuji - Avia
+ 5'10
37
Luca Barla
Domina Vacanze
+ 5'34
38
Kevin Florent
Eurosport
+ 5'36
39
Yoann Barbas
Gillette
+ 5'42
40
Jules Lemarchand
Eurosport
+ 5'49
41
Dennis Vanendert
YouTube
+ 5'57
42
Matthieu Ladagnous
Alstom
+ 6'06
43
Gaël Duran
Cessna - Specialized
+ 6'14
44
Matteo Rabottini
Domina Vacanze
+ 6'20
45
Jannick Van Damme
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
+ 6'24
46
Enrico Magazzini
Domina Vacanze
+ 6'30
47
Matteo Desantis
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
+ 6'37
48
Esteban Plaza
Domina Vacanze
+ 6'40
49
David Dvorsky
Fuji - Avia
+ 6'42
50
Jasper Stuyven
YouTube
+ 6'46
51
Omar Silvestri
Domina Vacanze
+ 6'48
52
Rémi Thevenet
Eurosport
s.t.
53
Rasmus Sterebo
Bank BGZ - Schuller
+ 7'01
54
Mathieu Delaroziere
FDJ - BigMat
+ 7'23
55
Florent Pruvot
Gillette
+ 7'28
56
Sébastian Teissier
Auber 93 - BigMat
+ 7'29
57
Olivier Perron
Armavia - Provamel
+ 7'46
58
Dylan Pinault
Gillette
+ 7'50
59
Anthony Delaplace
Alstom
+ 8'17
60
Rémy Di Gregorio
Alstom
+ 8'22
61
Kevin Denis
Alstom
+ 8'26
62
Vincent Baestaens
YouTube
+ 8'29
63
Pedro González
Domina Vacanze
+ 8'32
64
Roger Bruyere
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 8'35
65
Enzo Jeannin
Gillette
+ 8'38
66
Samuele Rossi
Domina Vacanze
+ 8'41
67
Mickael Larpe
FDJ - BigMat
+ 9'33
68
Frederique Robert
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
+ 9'34
69
Dries Devenyns
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
+ 9'41
70
Dorian Amiel
Armavia - Provamel
s.t.
71
Valentin Delamare
Alstom
+ 9'42
72
Simon Daniel
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
+ 9'43
73
Thibaut Van Gheem
Eurosport
+ 9'45
74
Arnaud Molmy
Armavia - Provamel
+ 9'55
75
Guillaume Paulet
Armavia - Provamel
s.t.
76
Gianni Meersman
YouTube
+ 10'00
77
Nicolas Defrance
Cessna - Specialized
+ 10'08
78
Jarosław Marycz
TEAM Dexia - Telenor
+ 10'32
79
Gaël Le Bellec
Bank BGZ - Schuller
+ 10'42
80
Rikke Dijkxhoorn
TEAM KLM - Microsoft
+ 10'43
81
Samet Yildiz
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 11'01
82
Artem Zaleski
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
+ 11'05
83
Jonathan Dufrasne
TEAM Dexia - Telenor
+ 11'16
84
Spencer Beamer
Emporiki Bank - UPC
+ 12'09
85
Kristof Vandewalle
Emporiki Bank - UPC
+ 12'21
86
Alexander Debakker
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
+ 12'30
87
Robin Stenuit
TEAM Dexia - Telenor
+ 12'37
88
Antonio Cunningham
Cessna - Specialized
+ 12'56
89
Raivis Ritums
Gillette
+ 12'58
90
Kevin Peeters
TEAM Dexia - Telenor
+ 13'01
91
Kyle Stephens
YouTube
+ 13'46
92
Alexandre Lemair
Eurosport
+ 14'23
93
Manuia Akake
Optics Continental
+ 14'48
94
Semyon Remizov
LG
+ 15'32
95
Marouen Marzouki
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 19'12
96
Rick Zabel
Emporiki Bank - UPC
+ 24'51
97
Yannick Albertini
Gillette
+ 25'01
98
Dennis Kreder
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
+ 25'07
99
Edwig Cammaerts
TEAM Dexia - Telenor
+ 26'56
100
Guido Garavaglia
Domina Vacanze
+ 26'57
101
Stéphane Libert
Armavia - Provamel
+ 26'58
102
Sebastiaan Maas
TEAM KLM - Microsoft
+ 26'59
103
Jarne Baeyens
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 27'50
104
Aurélien Passeron
Armavia - Provamel
+ 28'08
105
Pim Ligthart
TEAM Dexia - Telenor
+ 29'31
106
Patrick Crawford
Emporiki Bank - UPC
+ 29'53
107
Stephan Spies
Emporiki Bank - UPC
+ 29'59
108
Robin Guiot
Bank BGZ - Schuller
+ 30'01
109
Justin Jules
Auber 93 - BigMat
+ 42'55
110
Christophe Laborie
Cessna - Specialized
+ 42'57
111
Gijs Bakker
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
+ 43'19
112
Benoît Sinner
Armavia - Provamel
+ 43'22
113
Antoine Van Snick
TEAM KLM - Microsoft
+ 43'30
114
Guillaume Blot
Fuji - Avia
+ 43'48
115
Niels Vandyck
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 44'23
116
Aleksandr Chupalov
LG
+ 44'48
117
Rashid Al Shahrani
Optics Continental
+ 45'00
118
Eddie Aurel
Optics Continental
+ 45'02
119
Jean-Charles Sénac
Auber 93 - BigMat
+ 45'11
120
Fabiano Joachim
Emporiki Bank - UPC
+ 45'15
121
Rayan Rouault
Eurosport
+ 45'16
122
Stéphane Grenier
Fuji - Avia
+ 45'17
123
Jean Richard
Herbalife
+ 45'18
124
Léo Christophe
Gillette
+ 45'19
125
Maaz Al Hardi
Optics Continental
+ 45'21
126
Robert Jean
Bank BGZ - Schuller
+ 45'22
127
Charles Colson
TEAM KLM - Microsoft
+ 45'24
128
Joris de Jong
TEAM KLM - Microsoft
+ 45'25
129
Arkadi Novikov
LG
+ 45'26
130
Ali Sanad Al Hardi
Optics Continental
+ 45'29
131
Vincent Dufour
Fuji - Avia
+ 45'30
132
Mickaël Peré
Armavia - Provamel
+ 45'31
133
Will Davidson
Cessna - Specialized
+ 45'35
134
Robin Duhamel
TEAM Dexia - Telenor
+ 45'37
135
Brandon Morrison
YouTube
+ 45'41
136
Donovan Arnould
Fuji - Avia
+ 45'42
137
Imtiyaz Sulimani
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 47'11
138
Nadjib Bahari
Optics Continental
+ 47'27
139
Lionel Ledoux
Auber 93 - BigMat
+ 47'44
140
Yoann Gillet
Auber 93 - BigMat
+ 47'45
141
Alexandre Boileau
Auber 93 - BigMat
+ 47'46
142
Hassan Al Temiyat
Optics Continental
+ 47'50
143
Abdulaziz Al Sahaf
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 47'53
144
Abdurahman Al Sahaf
Optics Continental
+ 48'02
145
Vincent Wallace
Cessna - Specialized
+ 48'05
Next up....... the make or break moment with Nys. The key to my future with this project is, somehow, in his hands.
Corsica in late march, the sun was setting on the horizon as myself, Sven Nys and Eddie, my son, looked out over the Mediterranean sea. It was time.....
Me: " I think we can say that was a great race for your team there Sven. What with Eddie here getting into the break on stage 1 and Akake hanging in there for a while in the mountains."
Sven: " Sure..... I'm really -"
I cut Sven off........
Me: "Listen, we both know why we are having this conversation. I'm going to ask straight and clear and I want a direct answer Sven."
Eddie breaks into a coughing fit, although so caught up in the moment we hardly notice it.
Me: Are you going to accept the offer for the position of DS at Duvel - Qatar Optics next season?
The few seconds of silence seemed to last a lifetime.... Eddie exhales and Sven speaks.......
Sven: Yes.
I felt like a dagger from a friend had pierced my heart as a sense of dread hung heavily over me.
Sven: It really is the perfect opportunity for me to take after learning how to coach a team with Qatar Optics Continental. Don't look at this as me betraying you, I would be shocked if you wouldn't do the same in my position.
Eddie: Oh come on Sven. My dad gave you that position and he really wants to coach a Belgian WT team, you know that.
Me: Quiet Eddie. I would, indeed, like to keep the position but it is not in my hands....
I took a cigarette from a gentlemen on the adjacent table, I thought I was over them........ I pondered over everything during a defining moment where the cigarette didn't leave my lips. After a thoughtful pause.......
Me: Thank you for being open with me Sven. Better hear it from you than read it on the newspapers or the holographics! I wish you the best of luck with the team and hope you ensure Qataris continue to thrive at Duvel.
Sven: Thank you Freddie. After coaching this lot I dare say Qataris will be in Belgium for a long time to come.
We got up and shook hands.... After finishing my cigarette, Eddie had the last say...
Eddie: Who knows dad maybe you will be coaching me at the continental team next season!
We all chuckled..... Even though I felt that was the likely course of events and, strangely enough, I didn't mind the thought one bit.
@ Duxili - We saw from his expression that he was resolute and wouldn't change his mind.
Edited by The Rider on 22-01-2014 12:19
and I kept on walking. The sky was ablaze with the setting golden sun. Nature, it sure is funny. Funny that I can be possessed with such sad emotions whilst looking out across the most spectacular vista of the Mediterranean at the same time.
Miles had been covered. Minutes then hours had passed and I still went walking up the Corsican coast. The sun was but a dot in the darkening sky when I decided to lay down among the barren dunes. The warmth of the now extinguished sun could just be felt on the sand beneath my head as I stared up at the stars, before my eyes would close for the last time that day.......
@ Atlanius/ Krisa - I feel the pain! But, Nys cannot be blaimed. All the blame should go with the boss at Duvel who put us third in the pecking order in the first place.
@ duxili - Could you imagine! But, with the squad they will assemble for next season I doubt that could happen even with an incompetent manager!
I am not going to lie, after learning of Nys's intentions I was down. Down in the dumps. Nevertheless I went with the team to de Panne, hopeful of a stage win to lift the sprits eh.
A stage which was dominated by the classic winners of Argos Oil last season as they took the 1-2-3. It is the only cobbled stage here.
Billie leads the 14 man favourites group working for our Russian champ.
Rabobank, despite having Flanders/Roubaix winner Lander in the group and plenty of teammates, did not chase so we had to sacrifice Billie to prevent the break from winning with a huge margin.
Surprisingly enough the no.1 cobble rider in the world, Lander, was dropped by Billie's pace, no wonder Rabobank weren't riding. As Lander is dropped our Andorran,Cartillo, joins up with the favourites group and takes over the pace setting......
Cartillo is too strong for the rest of the favourites and rides away!
Cartillo would simply ride away from the favourites group and catch up with some of the breakaway riders. Janssens, a second year pro from Accent Jobs, would hold off the rest of the break and take a commanding GC lead as a result.
We were force to do the lion share of pace setting on the peloton today, with Yildiz felling good we certainly didn't mind!
The sprint is on!
Stage favourite, Bouhanni, has the ideal leadout today on the slight uphill finish. Yildiz has to come from a bit further back.. Come on you Turk!....
Other worldly!
............
Yildiz storms home for a win with a sheer display of dominance if you ever did see one!
Our Turkish champ destroyed everyone on the final uphill sprint, pushing a bigger gear he looked like he was in an other level or universe altogether. Really impressive!
STAGE RESULTS:
1
Samet Yildiz
Qatar Optics - Duvel
4h07'55
2
Nacer Bouhanni
Cessna - Specialized
s.t.
3
Alexander Kristoff
ExxonMobil
s.t.
4
Adam Blythe
Belavia
s.t.
5
Julien Fouchard
Cessna - Specialized
s.t.
6
Steven Tronet
Cessna - Specialized
s.t.
7
Marcel Huber
LKT - T-Mobile
s.t.
8
Michael Van Staeyen
YouTube
s.t.
9
Kenneth Vanbilsen
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
s.t.
10
Vincent Pernet
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Jeff Vermeulen
TEAM Van Merksteijn - Zoegas
s.t.
12
Damien Gaudin
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
13
Greg Van Avermaet
7-Eleven
s.t.
14
Romain Matheou
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
15
Nikolas Maes
ExxonMobil
s.t.
16
Barry Markus
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
17
Kenneth Parker
Citrix - Finnair
s.t.
18
Pieter Van de Voorde
Emporiki Bank - UPC
s.t.
19
André Steensen
Herbalife
s.t.
20
Luke Rowe
Herbalife
s.t.
21
Raphaël Janssens
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
s.t.
22
Tadeusz Pawlowski
Jardar - Savings & Loans
s.t.
23
Mirco Saggiorato
7-Eleven
s.t.
24
Philip Lavery
Jardar - Savings & Loans
s.t.
25
Taylor Phinney
ExxonMobil
s.t.
26
Józef Bednarski
Jardar - Savings & Loans
s.t.
27
Joel Zangerle
ExxonMobil
s.t.
28
Jan Ghyselinck
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
29
Michael Hepburn
Citrix - Finnair
s.t.
30
Andrew Talansky
Emporiki Bank - UPC
s.t.
31
Stefan Van Winden
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
32
Robin Chaigneau
Bacardi - ING
s.t.
33
Sven Vandousselaere
YouTube
s.t.
34
Ruben Zepuntke
LKT - T-Mobile
s.t.
35
Sebastian Lander
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
36
Tim Mertens
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
s.t.
37
Esteban Chavez
Herbalife
s.t.
38
Marc Maire
Cessna - Specialized
s.t.
39
Niels Albert
Herbalife
s.t.
40
Zdenek Stybar
TEAM Trilux - Siemens
s.t.
41
Nicolas Bonnet
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
42
Jetse Bol
Bacardi - ING
s.t.
43
Huub Duyn
Bacardi - ING
s.t.
44
Timothy Roe
Citrix - Finnair
s.t.
45
Tom Relou
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
46
Florian Bissinger
LKT - T-Mobile
s.t.
47
Samuel Levy
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
48
Zico Waeytens
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
49
Maurice Jeanneau
Cessna - Specialized
s.t.
50
Kristof Goddaert
YouTube
s.t.
51
Timofey Kritskiy
Qatar Optics - Duvel
s.t.
52
Fabio Polazzi
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
s.t.
53
Zakkari Dempster
Citrix - Finnair
s.t.
54
Marcel Meisen
TEAM Trilux - Siemens
s.t.
55
Rudy Molard
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
56
Jonathan Hoekstra
Bacardi - ING
s.t.
57
Benjamin Gourgue
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
s.t.
58
Tom Boonen
Qatar Optics - Duvel
s.t.
59
Bruno Cartillo
Qatar Optics - Duvel
s.t.
60
Aurélien Boulay
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
61
Wilfried Bruylant
Emporiki Bank - UPC
s.t.
62
Steven Van Vooren
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
s.t.
63
Klaas Lodewyck
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
s.t.
64
Alexandre Pliuschin
ExxonMobil
s.t.
65
Jonas Vangenechten
YouTube
s.t.
66
Simon Hahn
LKT - T-Mobile
s.t.
67
Justin Van Hoecke
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
s.t.
68
Dave Van den Broeck
YouTube
s.t.
69
Olivier Martin
Cessna - Specialized
s.t.
70
Max Michaelis
Emporiki Bank - UPC
s.t.
71
Joaquim Durant
Qatar Optics - Duvel
s.t.
72
Ashraf Al Mehalel
Qatar Optics - Duvel
s.t.
73
Hendrik Stöhr
LKT - T-Mobile
s.t.
74
Christophe Premont
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
s.t.
75
Theo Bos
TEAM Van Merksteijn - Zoegas
s.t.
76
Romain Duquesne
Cessna - Specialized
s.t.
77
Robin Michel
Herbalife
s.t.
78
Shane Jones
Herbalife
s.t.
79
Joseph Dombrowski
Belavia
s.t.
80
Filipe Gabriel Macedo
Belavia
s.t.
81
Matthias Plarre
Luxair - Vattenfall
s.t.
82
Michaël Baer
7-Eleven
s.t.
83
Gert Dockx
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
84
Felix Held
LKT - T-Mobile
s.t.
85
Tyler Farrar
Belavia
s.t.
86
Marcel Aregger
7-Eleven
s.t.
87
Janick Wisler
7-Eleven
s.t.
88
Andreas P. Stefan
TEAM Trilux - Siemens
s.t.
89
Wesley Kreder
TEAM Van Merksteijn - Zoegas
s.t.
90
Alexander Boyd
Belavia
s.t.
91
Stefan Wiegand
Luxair - Vattenfall
s.t.
92
Ivar Slik
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
93
Stéphen Collet
YouTube
s.t.
94
Daniel Holloway
7-Eleven
s.t.
95
Gaetan Bille
Qatar Optics - Duvel
s.t.
96
Jempy Drucker
ExxonMobil
s.t.
97
Joeri Adams
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
s.t.
98
Pip Grinter
Citrix - Finnair
s.t.
99
Peter Stetina
Belavia
s.t.
100
Dries Beatse
YouTube
s.t.
101
Alex Bowden
Belavia
s.t.
102
Thomas Bonin
Emporiki Bank - UPC
s.t.
103
Kim Borry
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
s.t.
104
Xavier Albrecht
7-Eleven
s.t.
105
Fernando Miguel Lopes
ExxonMobil
s.t.
106
Taylor Tolleson
Belavia
s.t.
107
Stijn Jacobs
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
s.t.
108
Tom Matias
ExxonMobil
s.t.
109
Fabian H. Dörr
Luxair - Vattenfall
s.t.
110
Luke Durbridge
Citrix - Finnair
s.t.
111
Frank Günther
Luxair - Vattenfall
s.t.
112
Olivier Van Daele
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
s.t.
113
Martin Schöffmann
7-Eleven
s.t.
114
Timo Aalbers
Bacardi - ING
s.t.
115
Rune Van der Meijden
TEAM Van Merksteijn - Zoegas
s.t.
116
Tim K. Hahn
LKT - T-Mobile
s.t.
117
Caleb Fairly
Emporiki Bank - UPC
s.t.
118
Mateusz Taciak
Jardar - Savings & Loans
s.t.
119
Stefan M. Brandl
Luxair - Vattenfall
s.t.
120
Remco Te Brake
Bacardi - ING
s.t.
121
Kersten Thiele
Luxair - Vattenfall
s.t.
122
Jesse Veldkamp
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
s.t.
123
Oscar Riesebeek
Bacardi - ING
s.t.
124
Julian May
Luxair - Vattenfall
s.t.
125
Kai Müller
LKT - T-Mobile
s.t.
126
Ali Sanad Al Muwalid
Qatar Optics - Duvel
s.t.
127
Tom Hübner
Emporiki Bank - UPC
s.t.
128
Mikolaj Gajda
Jardar - Savings & Loans
s.t.
129
Henryk Grabowski
Jardar - Savings & Loans
s.t.
130
Jan Meissner
Luxair - Vattenfall
s.t.
131
Nick Wauters
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
s.t.
132
Krzysztof Witkowski
Jardar - Savings & Loans
s.t.
133
Mark Werner
TEAM Trilux - Siemens
s.t.
134
Hendrik Linden
Emporiki Bank - UPC
s.t.
135
Kasper de Wit
TEAM Van Merksteijn - Zoegas
s.t.
136
Czeslaw Lewandowski
Jardar - Savings & Loans
s.t.
137
Konoe Matsuda
TEAM Trilux - Siemens
s.t.
138
Nicholas Warner
Herbalife
s.t.
STAGE 3: De Panne - De Panne 99 KM's
Another sprint stage....
A big crash with 6 KM to go caused many to fall, including Kritskiy and Cartillo.
Bouhanni takes this one!
The Frenchman got the ideal lead out again and this time finishes it off. Yildiz was on the wheel of Pernet, who crashed, which really disrupted his sprint. Despite this he did give a big effort to finish 2nd and just ran out of road in the final.
With just a 9 Km TT to go it looks like Janssens will hold on for the GC. After crashing it will be interesting to see if Kritskiy can maintain his 100% winning record in TT's since his second WTT title.
Tough days for Aurel (and his son too). But well, maybe Eddie will profit lots in case his dad becomes his coach. Or maybe a team change will come? I'm sure many teams are interested. At least the team brings in the results. Strong performance by Yildiz, what a sprint. And Cartillo looks good in the GC.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Don't worry, you'll find a team. Probably you could take Qatar Optics Continental and take it to the top. It would be strange, weird and difficult but not imposible.
Could Kritskiy maintain his 100% win success rate in TTs since his 2nd WTT victory despite crashing yesterday?
No.....
The Russian didn't look in his usual scintillating form, perhaps suffering after his crash and the resulting cuts and bruises. Nevertheless he still finishes third behind two quality riders, Phinney was too good today. Looking back it was a super four days in de Panne, after finishing on the podium on every stage and Yildiz missing out on the green jersey by 1 point. The only negative point being Durant retiring due to a broken hand sustained in a crash.
A good TT from Cartillo would have resulted in him winning the overall... unfortunately he had an off day and even failed to maintain his spot on the podium. Accent Jobs are having a great season before they withdraw their sponsorship winning the overall with the Belgian Janssens.
STAGE RESULTS:
1
Taylor Phinney
ExxonMobil
11'22
2
Ivar Slik
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 17
3
Timofey Kritskiy
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 23
4
Luke Durbridge
Citrix - Finnair
+ 24
5
Jan Ghyselinck
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 30
6
Jempy Drucker
ExxonMobil
+ 32
7
Nikolas Maes
ExxonMobil
+ 35
8
Andrew Talansky
Emporiki Bank - UPC
+ 38
9
Sebastian Lander
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 39
10
Huub Duyn
Bacardi - ING
+ 41
Spoiler
11
Marcel Aregger
7-Eleven
+ 44
12
Zico Waeytens
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 47
13
Gaetan Bille
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 49
14
Zakkari Dempster
Citrix - Finnair
+ 50
15
Romain Duquesne
Cessna - Specialized
+ 55
16
Timothy Roe
Citrix - Finnair
+ 56
17
Niels Albert
Herbalife
s.t.
18
André Steensen
Herbalife
+ 57
19
Zdenek Stybar
TEAM Trilux - Siemens
s.t.
20
Barry Markus
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 58
21
Caleb Fairly
Emporiki Bank - UPC
s.t.
22
Kristof Goddaert
YouTube
+ 59
23
Philip Lavery
Jardar - Savings & Loans
s.t.
24
Kim Borry
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
+ 1'00
25
Matthias Plarre
Luxair - Vattenfall
+ 1'01
26
Mirco Saggiorato
7-Eleven
s.t.
27
Bruno Cartillo
Qatar Optics - Duvel
s.t.
28
Simon Hahn
LKT - T-Mobile
+ 1'02
29
Nicolas Bonnet
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
30
Klaas Lodewyck
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
+ 1'03
31
Samuel Levy
FDJ - BigMat
+ 1'04
32
Damien Gaudin
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
33
Tyler Farrar
Belavia
s.t.
34
Nacer Bouhanni
Cessna - Specialized
+ 1'05
35
Jetse Bol
Bacardi - ING
s.t.
36
Fabio Polazzi
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
+ 1'06
37
Hendrik Stöhr
LKT - T-Mobile
+ 1'07
38
Marc Maire
Cessna - Specialized
s.t.
39
Alexander Kristoff
ExxonMobil
s.t.
40
Greg Van Avermaet
7-Eleven
+ 1'08
41
Dries Beatse
YouTube
s.t.
42
Ruben Zepuntke
LKT - T-Mobile
+ 1'09
43
Michael Van Staeyen
YouTube
s.t.
44
Luke Rowe
Herbalife
+ 1'10
45
Tadeusz Pawlowski
Jardar - Savings & Loans
+ 1'13
46
Mikolaj Gajda
Jardar - Savings & Loans
s.t.
47
Esteban Chavez
Herbalife
+ 1'14
48
Adam Blythe
Belavia
s.t.
49
Shane Jones
Herbalife
+ 1'15
50
Theo Bos
TEAM Van Merksteijn - Zoegas
s.t.
51
Wilfried Bruylant
Emporiki Bank - UPC
s.t.
52
Tom Boonen
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 1'16
53
Romain Matheou
FDJ - BigMat
+ 1'17
54
Vincent Pernet
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
55
Stefan Wiegand
Luxair - Vattenfall
s.t.
56
Czeslaw Lewandowski
Jardar - Savings & Loans
s.t.
57
Florian Bissinger
LKT - T-Mobile
s.t.
58
Alexander Boyd
Belavia
+ 1'19
59
Jonas Vangenechten
YouTube
s.t.
60
Rune Van der Meijden
TEAM Van Merksteijn - Zoegas
+ 1'20
61
Stefan M. Brandl
Luxair - Vattenfall
s.t.
62
Justin Van Hoecke
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
s.t.
63
Fabian H. Dörr
Luxair - Vattenfall
+ 1'21
64
Frank Günther
Luxair - Vattenfall
s.t.
65
Daniel Holloway
7-Eleven
s.t.
66
Stefan Van Winden
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 1'22
67
Alexandre Pliuschin
ExxonMobil
s.t.
68
Tom Relou
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 1'23
69
Ashraf Al Mehalel
Qatar Optics - Duvel
s.t.
70
Joel Zangerle
ExxonMobil
s.t.
71
Tim Mertens
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
+ 1'24
72
Kenneth Vanbilsen
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
s.t.
73
Michaël Baer
7-Eleven
s.t.
74
Joeri Adams
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
s.t.
75
Oscar Riesebeek
Bacardi - ING
+ 1'25
76
Jeff Vermeulen
TEAM Van Merksteijn - Zoegas
s.t.
77
Marcel Meisen
TEAM Trilux - Siemens
+ 1'26
78
Sven Vandousselaere
YouTube
s.t.
79
Raphaël Janssens
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
s.t.
80
Julian May
Luxair - Vattenfall
s.t.
81
Julien Fouchard
Cessna - Specialized
+ 1'27
82
Joseph Dombrowski
Belavia
+ 1'29
83
Wesley Kreder
TEAM Van Merksteijn - Zoegas
s.t.
84
Marcel Huber
LKT - T-Mobile
s.t.
85
Tom Matias
ExxonMobil
s.t.
86
Timo Aalbers
Bacardi - ING
+ 1'30
87
Józef Bednarski
Jardar - Savings & Loans
s.t.
88
Dave Van den Broeck
YouTube
s.t.
89
Kenneth Parker
Citrix - Finnair
s.t.
90
Andreas P. Stefan
TEAM Trilux - Siemens
+ 1'31
91
Alex Bowden
Belavia
s.t.
92
Steven Tronet
Cessna - Specialized
s.t.
93
Fernando Miguel Lopes
ExxonMobil
s.t.
94
Nick Wauters
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
+ 1'32
95
Kasper de Wit
TEAM Van Merksteijn - Zoegas
s.t.
96
Christophe Premont
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
s.t.
97
Mark Werner
TEAM Trilux - Siemens
s.t.
98
Kersten Thiele
Luxair - Vattenfall
s.t.
99
Steven Van Vooren
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
s.t.
100
Maurice Jeanneau
Cessna - Specialized
s.t.
101
Olivier Van Daele
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
s.t.
102
Jesse Veldkamp
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
+ 1'34
103
Samet Yildiz
Qatar Optics - Duvel
s.t.
104
Jan Meissner
Luxair - Vattenfall
+ 1'35
105
Peter Stetina
Belavia
s.t.
106
Filipe Gabriel Macedo
Belavia
s.t.
107
Martin Schöffmann
7-Eleven
+ 1'36
108
Taylor Tolleson
Belavia
+ 1'37
109
Krzysztof Witkowski
Jardar - Savings & Loans
+ 1'38
110
Pip Grinter
Citrix - Finnair
s.t.
111
Xavier Albrecht
7-Eleven
+ 1'39
112
Thomas Bonin
Emporiki Bank - UPC
+ 1'40
113
Remco Te Brake
Bacardi - ING
s.t.
114
Olivier Martin
Cessna - Specialized
+ 1'41
115
Rudy Molard
FDJ - BigMat
+ 1'42
116
Benjamin Gourgue
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
s.t.
117
Robin Michel
Herbalife
s.t.
118
Konoe Matsuda
TEAM Trilux - Siemens
s.t.
119
Nicholas Warner
Herbalife
s.t.
120
Stéphen Collet
YouTube
+ 1'45
121
Pieter Van de Voorde
Emporiki Bank - UPC
+ 1'47
122
Tim K. Hahn
LKT - T-Mobile
s.t.
123
Aurélien Boulay
FDJ - BigMat
+ 1'50
124
Tom Hübner
Emporiki Bank - UPC
+ 1'51
125
Kai Müller
LKT - T-Mobile
s.t.
126
Mateusz Taciak
Jardar - Savings & Loans
+ 1'52
127
Jonathan Hoekstra
Bacardi - ING
+ 1'53
128
Henryk Grabowski
Jardar - Savings & Loans
+ 1'55
129
Max Michaelis
Emporiki Bank - UPC
+ 2'04
130
Stijn Jacobs
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
+ 2'08
131
Felix Held
LKT - T-Mobile
s.t.
132
Hendrik Linden
Emporiki Bank - UPC
s.t.
133
Ali Sanad Al Muwalid
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 2'09
FINAL GC:
1
Raphaël Janssens
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
11h36'08
2
Taylor Phinney
ExxonMobil
+ 45
3
Zdenek Stybar
TEAM Trilux - Siemens
+ 46
4
Bruno Cartillo
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 48
5
Jetse Bol
Bacardi - ING
+ 58
6
Stefan Wiegand
Luxair - Vattenfall
+ 1'00
7
Timofey Kritskiy
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 1'08
8
Sven Vandousselaere
YouTube
+ 1'13
9
Jan Ghyselinck
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 1'15
10
Nacer Bouhanni
Cessna - Specialized
+ 1'18
Spoiler
11
Nikolas Maes
ExxonMobil
+ 1'20
12
Zico Waeytens
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 1'32
13
Niels Albert
Herbalife
+ 1'41
14
Timothy Roe
Citrix - Finnair
s.t.
15
Philip Lavery
Jardar - Savings & Loans
+ 1'44
16
Damien Gaudin
FDJ - BigMat
+ 1'49
17
Fabio Polazzi
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
+ 1'51
18
Vincent Pernet
FDJ - BigMat
+ 2'02
19
Olivier Van Daele
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
+ 2'17
20
Sebastian Lander
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 4'41
21
Jempy Drucker
ExxonMobil
+ 4'59
22
Kristof Goddaert
YouTube
+ 5'01
23
Marcel Aregger
7-Eleven
+ 5'11
24
Caleb Fairly
Emporiki Bank - UPC
+ 5'25
25
Klaas Lodewyck
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
+ 5'30
26
Dries Beatse
YouTube
+ 5'35
27
Michael Van Staeyen
YouTube
+ 5'36
28
Tom Boonen
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 5'43
29
Justin Van Hoecke
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
+ 5'47
30
Stefan Van Winden
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 5'49
31
Michaël Baer
7-Eleven
+ 5'51
32
Pieter Van de Voorde
Emporiki Bank - UPC
+ 6'14
33
Zakkari Dempster
Citrix - Finnair
+ 6'18
34
Barry Markus
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 6'26
35
Samet Yildiz
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 6'30
36
Greg Van Avermaet
7-Eleven
+ 6'36
37
Gaetan Bille
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 6'48
38
Ruben Zepuntke
LKT - T-Mobile
+ 6'58
39
Andrew Talansky
Emporiki Bank - UPC
+ 7'00
40
Huub Duyn
Bacardi - ING
+ 7'03
41
Alexander Kristoff
ExxonMobil
+ 7'13
42
André Steensen
Herbalife
+ 7'19
43
Mirco Saggiorato
7-Eleven
+ 7'23
44
Matthias Plarre
Luxair - Vattenfall
s.t.
45
Nicolas Bonnet
FDJ - BigMat
+ 7'24
46
Samuel Levy
FDJ - BigMat
+ 7'26
47
Marc Maire
Cessna - Specialized
+ 7'29
48
Wilfried Bruylant
Emporiki Bank - UPC
+ 7'33
49
Jonas Vangenechten
YouTube
+ 7'41
50
Joel Zangerle
ExxonMobil
+ 7'45
51
Kenneth Vanbilsen
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
+ 7'46
52
Jeff Vermeulen
TEAM Van Merksteijn - Zoegas
+ 7'47
53
Marcel Meisen
TEAM Trilux - Siemens
+ 7'48
54
Julien Fouchard
Cessna - Specialized
+ 7'49
55
Kim Borry
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
+ 7'51
56
Steven Tronet
Cessna - Specialized
+ 7'53
57
Alex Bowden
Belavia
s.t.
58
Ivar Slik
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 9'04
59
Romain Duquesne
Cessna - Specialized
+ 9'17
60
Luke Durbridge
Citrix - Finnair
+ 9'31
61
Romain Matheou
FDJ - BigMat
+ 9'39
62
Kenneth Parker
Citrix - Finnair
+ 9'52
63
Dave Van den Broeck
YouTube
s.t.
64
Maurice Jeanneau
Cessna - Specialized
+ 9'54
65
Stéphen Collet
YouTube
+ 10'07
66
Ashraf Al Mehalel
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 10'09
67
Marcel Huber
LKT - T-Mobile
+ 10'39
68
Steven Van Vooren
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
s.t.
69
Adam Blythe
Belavia
+ 11'25
70
Theo Bos
TEAM Van Merksteijn - Zoegas
+ 11'26
71
Filipe Gabriel Macedo
Belavia
+ 11'44
72
Tom Relou
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 11'56
73
Joeri Adams
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
+ 11'57
74
Czeslaw Lewandowski
Jardar - Savings & Loans
+ 12'03
75
Tyler Farrar
Belavia
+ 12'06
76
Alexandre Pliuschin
ExxonMobil
+ 12'18
77
Florian Bissinger
LKT - T-Mobile
+ 12'19
78
Tom Matias
ExxonMobil
+ 12'31
79
Fernando Miguel Lopes
ExxonMobil
+ 12'33
80
Luke Rowe
Herbalife
+ 12'39
81
Tadeusz Pawlowski
Jardar - Savings & Loans
+ 12'42
82
Rune Van der Meijden
TEAM Van Merksteijn - Zoegas
+ 12'49
83
Daniel Holloway
7-Eleven
+ 12'55
84
Frank Günther
Luxair - Vattenfall
+ 13'49
85
Esteban Chavez
Herbalife
+ 14'02
86
Wesley Kreder
TEAM Van Merksteijn - Zoegas
+ 14'19
87
Pip Grinter
Citrix - Finnair
+ 14'40
88
Robin Michel
Herbalife
+ 14'44
89
Henryk Grabowski
Jardar - Savings & Loans
+ 14'45
90
Simon Hahn
LKT - T-Mobile
+ 14'46
91
Joseph Dombrowski
Belavia
+ 14'51
92
Kersten Thiele
Luxair - Vattenfall
+ 15'16
93
Peter Stetina
Belavia
+ 16'03
94
Benjamin Gourgue
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
+ 16'10
95
Remco Te Brake
Bacardi - ING
+ 16'23
96
Max Michaelis
Emporiki Bank - UPC
+ 16'53
97
Hendrik Stöhr
LKT - T-Mobile
+ 17'47
98
Jonathan Hoekstra
Bacardi - ING
+ 18'02
99
Mark Werner
TEAM Trilux - Siemens
+ 18'28
100
Stefan M. Brandl
Luxair - Vattenfall
+ 19'02
101
Martin Schöffmann
7-Eleven
+ 19'18
102
Xavier Albrecht
7-Eleven
+ 19'21
103
Olivier Martin
Cessna - Specialized
+ 19'23
104
Christophe Premont
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
+ 19'56
105
Rudy Molard
FDJ - BigMat
+ 20'59
106
Mikolaj Gajda
Jardar - Savings & Loans
+ 21'03
107
Mateusz Taciak
Jardar - Savings & Loans
+ 21'09
108
Fabian H. Dörr
Luxair - Vattenfall
+ 21'11
109
Ali Sanad Al Muwalid
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 21'13
110
Taylor Tolleson
Belavia
+ 21'27
111
Stijn Jacobs
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
+ 21'37
112
Andreas P. Stefan
TEAM Trilux - Siemens
+ 22'10
113
Alexander Boyd
Belavia
+ 22'14
114
Józef Bednarski
Jardar - Savings & Loans
+ 22'30
115
Jan Meissner
Luxair - Vattenfall
s.t.
116
Thomas Bonin
Emporiki Bank - UPC
+ 22'35
117
Aurélien Boulay
FDJ - BigMat
+ 22'50
118
Tim Mertens
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
+ 23'29
119
Shane Jones
Herbalife
+ 24'20
120
Krzysztof Witkowski
Jardar - Savings & Loans
+ 25'03
121
Timo Aalbers
Bacardi - ING
+ 25'18
122
Oscar Riesebeek
Bacardi - ING
+ 26'16
123
Kasper de Wit
TEAM Van Merksteijn - Zoegas
+ 26'21
124
Nick Wauters
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
+ 26'23
125
Jesse Veldkamp
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
+ 26'25
126
Kai Müller
LKT - T-Mobile
+ 26'42
127
Tom Hübner
Emporiki Bank - UPC
s.t.
128
Hendrik Linden
Emporiki Bank - UPC
+ 26'59
129
Nicholas Warner
Herbalife
+ 27'39
130
Konoe Matsuda
TEAM Trilux - Siemens
s.t.
131
Felix Held
LKT - T-Mobile
+ 28'05
132
Tim K. Hahn
LKT - T-Mobile
+ 29'10
133
Julian May
Luxair - Vattenfall
+ 34'49
WT rankings at the end of March:
Although I have practically received my marching orders, I owe the team at least to do my best in making sure they avoid relegation. It is a funny old season for the team. After winning the WT rankings last season, this season we are going to be scrapping to avoid relegation whereas next season, with the investments from Duvel, the team may be challenging to top the WT rankings again. This season is the proverbial bad filling in a good season sandwich!
I wouldn't worry yet but some WT points soon would be most welcome.
The tour of Flanders is here. The race favourite undoubtedly is the Danish champ Lander having won here before and also won Paris Roubaix multiple times. His poor showing at de Panne may or may not be a anomaly.
Early on the racing was fast and the break just couldn't establish itself. Frenchman Richard of Herbalife stays out in front for several kilometres with '30 over the bunch, that was the most successful break early on.
He is quickly absorbed once we reach one of the many cobbled section with 170 KM to go.
150 KM to go: four strong riders attack and we have one of them.
Our rider Billie attack alongs with Pawlowski,Mikkelson and Bellis to from a strong break of the day.
<100 KM to go: The favourites begin to set the pace on the peloton.
Pernet of FDJ attacked across to the break, Bellis would fall and would not make his way back across to the break. Although the break was a good one they stood little chance against the marauding group of big favourites.
Puccio of Rabobank falls with 25 KM to go, that was his chance of victory out of the window.
Mikkelson drops the rest of the break with 19 KM to go as less than 2'00 behind Lander puts in a big attack.
But Lander doesn't distance everyone.....Belgian champ Maes is able to go with him. The two favourites now lead the race.
The two riders slow up the pace which means 6 riders are able to join up with them, including our man Cartillo with no more cobbled sections to come with under 10 KM to go.
Lander's teammate Ghyselinck attacks....
He uses this a perfect spring board to launch his own attack... the rest can't follow......
Flanders title no.2 for the Danish champ!
Lander now has multiple titles in Roubaix and Flanders and few would say he can't win many more. In the end he wins by a margin of '46. Cartillo secures us 20 WT points with his 8th place finish, to finish just 1'03 down on the winner is not bad at all.
RACE RESULTS:
1
Sebastian Lander
Rabobank Cycling Team
6h33'40
2
Nikolas Maes
ExxonMobil
+ 46
3
Jan Ghyselinck
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
4
Marko Kump
B&O - Red Bull
s.t.
5
Víctor Cabedo
ExxonMobil
+ 1'03
6
Edvald Boasson Hagen
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
7
Jarl Salomein
Cessna - Specialized
s.t.
8
Bruno Cartillo
Qatar Optics - Duvel
s.t.
9
Ronnie Mikkelsen
B&O - Red Bull
+ 2'34
10
Lars Boom
Argos Oil - Wii
+ 3'20
Spoiler
11
Andrea Guardini
YouTube
s.t.
12
Vincent Pernet
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
13
John Degenkolb
Argos Oil - Wii
s.t.
14
Matteo Trentin
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
s.t.
15
Julien Vermote
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
s.t.
16
Gaetan Bille
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 4'20
17
Tony Gallopin
B&O - Red Bull
+ 5'01
18
Taylor Phinney
ExxonMobil
s.t.
19
Zico Waeytens
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
20
Tom Van Asbroeck
RIM
+ 6'42
21
Tadeusz Pawlowski
Jardar - Savings & Loans
+ 7'03
22
Ronan Van Zandbeek
Argos Oil - Wii
+ 8'12
23
Fabio Felline
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
s.t.
24
Guillaume Van Keirsbulck
RIM
+ 8'31
25
Jonathan Bellis
E.ON
s.t.
26
Kristof Goddaert
YouTube
+ 10'26
27
Damien Gaudin
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
28
Salvatore Puccio
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 11'07
29
Philip Lavery
Jardar - Savings & Loans
+ 12'16
30
Henryk Grabowski
Jardar - Savings & Loans
+ 12'34
31
Olivier Van Daele
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
s.t.
32
Giorgio Frau
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
+ 13'02
33
Timofey Kritskiy
Qatar Optics - Duvel
s.t.
34
Björn Thurau
Ribena - France Télécom
+ 13'43
35
Gerald Ciolek
Argos Oil - Wii
s.t.
36
Mitchell Docker
TEAM UnitedHealthcare - M&M's
s.t.
37
Matthew Rowe
Belavia
+ 14'39
38
Matthew Goss
Lampre - UniCredit
+ 15'20
39
Ian Stannard
E.ON
s.t.
40
Elia Favilli
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
s.t.
41
Michael Matthews
Lampre - UniCredit
s.t.
42
Raphaël Janssens
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
s.t.
43
Tom Boonen
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 16'22
44
Caleb Ewan
TEAM UnitedHealthcare - M&M's
+ 17'26
45
Marco Frapporti
John Deere - Electronic Arts
+ 17'58
46
Grégory Joseph
RIM
+ 18'50
47
Daniel Oss
Lampre - UniCredit
s.t.
48
Sven Vandousselaere
YouTube
s.t.
49
Juan Valerón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 20'36
50
Giacomo Nizzolo
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
+ 21'34
51
Nicolas Bonnet
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
52
Jens Keukeleire
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
53
Julien Fouchard
Cessna - Specialized
s.t.
54
Michel Koch
Argos Oil - Wii
s.t.
55
Ashraf Al Mehalel
Qatar Optics - Duvel
s.t.
56
Barry Markus
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
57
Tommy Paulsen
Ridley
s.t.
58
Kris Boeckmans
RIM
+ 24'35
59
Francesco Gavazzi
TEAM UnitedHealthcare - M&M's
s.t.
60
Arnaud Demare
Ribena - France Télécom
+ 25'01
61
Jérémie Blot
Bank BGZ - Schuller
s.t.
62
Fabio Sabatini
John Deere - Electronic Arts
s.t.
63
Elias Schmäh
Belavia
s.t.
64
Gavin Mannion
Belavia
s.t.
65
Frans-Leonard Markaskard
Ridley
s.t.
66
Alan Vergnaud
Cessna - Specialized
s.t.
67
Dennis Vanendert
YouTube
+ 26'27
68
Dave Van den Broeck
YouTube
s.t.
69
Vincent Baestaens
YouTube
+ 26'58
70
Fabio Aru
John Deere - Electronic Arts
s.t.
71
Mickaël Delage
Cessna - Specialized
s.t.
72
Simone Ponzi
TEAM UnitedHealthcare - M&M's
s.t.
73
Jonathan Bertrand
YouTube
s.t.
74
Christophe Premont
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
s.t.
75
Jonathon McEvoy
E.ON
s.t.
76
Adrien Petit
Bank BGZ - Schuller
s.t.
77
Mark Cavendish
E.ON
+ 27'48
78
Luke Rowe
Herbalife
s.t.
79
Jan Bakelants
RIM
s.t.
80
Adam Blythe
Belavia
s.t.
81
Steven Van Vooren
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
s.t.
82
Romain Duquesne
Cessna - Specialized
+ 28'25
83
Thomas Riber-Sellebjerg
B&O - Red Bull
s.t.
84
Denis Galimzyanov
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
s.t.
85
Filipe Gabriel Macedo
Belavia
s.t.
86
Luc Hagenaars
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
87
Charles Sanson
Cessna - Specialized
s.t.
88
Thomas Nissen
B&O - Red Bull
+ 29'26
89
Jempy Drucker
ExxonMobil
+ 29'42
90
Filippo Baggio
Herbalife
+ 30'15
91
Daniele Ratto
John Deere - Electronic Arts
s.t.
92
Aidis Kruopis
E.ON
s.t.
93
Justin Williams
RIM
s.t.
94
Fabien Bacquet
Ribena - France Télécom
s.t.
95
Daniel Shand
E.ON
s.t.
96
Yohan Fouche
Ribena - France Télécom
s.t.
97
Logan Chaix
Bank BGZ - Schuller
s.t.
98
Tom Matias
ExxonMobil
s.t.
@ Krisa - Another win for the Turk!
@ sutty68 - He looks great when in this kind of form.
@ 24sebaf1 - Qatar Optics Continental looks to be a good move atm.
@ Shonak - Fred would like to be coach Eddie, ideally at a Belgian team though.
@ duxili - It is always time for Big Bill and that win gave us some Turkish delight.