A flat profile. It's my second National Championships at the pros. Last year in the Ardennes I didn't finish, like many others. Today I am going for the first prize. I think I can win here with my sprint.
Another season objective is knocking on the door. I was prepared as much as possible and I was totally focused. Let's hear what the favorites had to say at the start of the race.
Tom Boonen: Geel is a circuit which should suit me fine. The tricolore jersey is still one of the most beautiful jerseys of all. After my stage in de Tour de Suisse, I think I'm ready to get another one.
Tom Van Asbroeck: I've been making a lot of progress this year and today is the big exam, at least that's how it feels today.
Gianni Meersman: The route may be a bit too flat for me, but I'll certainly try to win here. Last year I should've won, now I want to make up for that.
Kris Boeckmans: My season hasn't been that fantastic so far. Taking the jersey for Lotto would certainly make up for a lot. I hope to count on my fast legs today.
Matthias Vleminckx: There's a lot of guys that can win here today. I think Quickstep will have to make the race and maybe guys like me can profit from that.
Sep Vanmarcke: In a straight sprint it'll be hard to win, so I'll have to try to make the race hard. Without a team that won't be easy.
I have something different for you today. Championships (national and world) are always a special race with a special feeling, at least that's how it feels for me. I always enjoyed watching them. So for championships, I'll let you see the races through the eyes of our national commentators. Hope you enjoy it!
Welcome to the Belgian Road Race, always an exciting time of the year. The Tour is just around the corner and the most beautiful jersey of all is up for grabs here today. How many times were you road champion, Roger?
I won it two times on the road. That's quite an achievement, too. In that time, I had to fight off Merckx, Maertens, Van Impe, Dierickx and so many more. Winning that event twice in those days was really something I'm still very proud of.
The riders are ready to start. We see an anxious Vleminckx at the front, Jasper Stuyven is also keen on a good performance, he's been riding around well this season. Boonen is tucked away in the pack, he has his team to take care of him.
And we're 30 kilometers into the race, we have a five-men group with a 4 minute lead on the peloton.
They'll never make it to the finish, of course. But it's good that they're here, for the sponsor.
We've got 100 kilometers left in this edition of the Belgian National Championship. So far nothing major has happened, no bad falls. Although it did start to rain earlier, as we just get Vleminckx in the shot.
Look, you can just see he's very focused. He's drinking, eating. Before the start he made a very professional impression on me. After what I've seen in Wevelgem, he's my big favorite for today.
Really, Roger? Of course, Wevelgem was a fantastic race for the young rider from Deinze. We'll see where he sprints to at the end of the day, he's certainly not slow at the finish.
Only 40 kilometers left now. Boonen already well at the front. It's like he's expecting trouble. He really wants that jersey back.
And look at Vleminckx, he's not letting him out of his sight for a minute, that's just great. He's riding next to him to show him he's not afraid of him.
Look at them fighting for the wheel of Boonen, now.
We see Lodewyck, Vleminckx and Boeckmans, all going for that same wheel, of Tom Boonen.
The sprint is in full preparation now, the breakaway has been caught. We're heading for a sprint finish!
You can already see Vanmarcke is lost. He's way too much back. If you want to win, you're at the front, it's as easy as that. I don't see him making up 50 meters in a sprint against Boonen.
How will they take the two final corners, that's real important now. In the bend to the right, we see Steegmans at the front, followed directly by team mate Boonen, then Vleminckx, Boeckmans and Keukeleire.
I think our winner is one of those guys. The next corner is just 30 meters away and then there's not enough time to come to the front.
No crashes, thank God. The final corner and Vleminckx is the first to come out of it! Boeckmans going strong, too!
Boonen is empty!
Vleminckx or Boeckmans? Who will it be, Vleminckx or Boeckmans? And it's Boeckmans with the victory!
He rode a perfect sprint. Too bad for Vleminckx, he was strong but went too early, I think.
We have Renaat at the finish line. Go, Renaat.
I'm here with Matthias Vleminckx, the number two of today. Matthias, where did it go wrong?
I'm not sure. I was at Boonen's wheel and placed my sprint maybe a bit too early. Boeckmans was just faster today, the best man won. This result ought to give you confidence, though.
A bit. I already knew I had a good sprint, though. I'm just disappointed right now. And he's going into the team bus, now. He's very disappointed, we understand that, of course. Here we have the winner, Kris Boeckmans! Kris, what a victory.
Yeah, I know! This really is a boost for my career. I can't believe it. Will you use this jersey to climb in the team's hierarchy?
I haven't thought about that yet, no. I'm just very happy here. I rode a perfect race and finished it off in the sprint. It's a dream coming true. And with these words, we go back to you in the studio.
There you have it. It's a totally different thing from my second place in Wevelgem. This time I'm not happy at all, I'm very disappointed. I really had my mind set on this and I believed I could win.
There has been some changes in my calendar, too. I might start in the Tour of Poland later in the season.
Tomorrow I'll look on ProCyclingStats and give you some of the winners in other countries, too.
I'm not sure when my next race is, now.
See you,
Matt
Edited by Ian Butler on 15-04-2014 14:17
Wow, you're moving along really fast. Had to catch-up, Matthias is doing really well. Shame he couldn't win the sprint, being the Belgian NC in his first year would be epic
TimoCycling - 2nd isn't bad indeed. I just hope for a profile which suits Matthias for next year so he can make up for it
The Hobbit - It seems so, and Boeckmans profited from it!
Schleck96 - Yeah, I know Too bad he couldn't deliver.
Jeselyh - Glad you took the effort of catching up That jersey would've been epic, but it went down differently. But maybe this'll motivate Matthias to bounce back harder!
Besides Matthews' Road Race title back in January, we only score another with Tuft, in the Individual Time Trial challenge.
Tour de France 2014
At the team presentation, remember when I said Simon Gerrans could pull stunts on all of his main objectives of the season. After winning the Tour Down Under, Milan - San Remo and Liège - Bastogne - Liège, he was able to win stage 2 and 3 (both on Corsica) of the Tour de France. He's now in the Maillot Jaune, too. With a cobbled stage to Roubaix tomorrow, it'll be hard to keep it, though.
Österreich Rundfahrt
Meanwhile, I came to the start of the stage race in Austria. There are 8 stages in total. The first two were mountain stages, so I took it easy. Tomorrow, however, we have a flat profile. After the initial disappointment from the missed chance at the Belgian Jersey, I decided to make the second half of my season one to count. I want to win a couple stages if possible. Try to get back into the winning mood!
I'll report back when there's something worth reporting!
See you then,
Matt
I'm a sprinter again! After the initial let-down of the National Championship, I decided to forget about it as soon as possible. I concentrated on my strengths and what I would do the rest of the season. With the cobbled season behind us, I thought it might be best to make the most of my abilities as a sprinter. In Austria, the sprinting field was limited. There were three stages I had marked with a big magic marker. I was able to win all three of them!
As the icing on the cake, I took home the points jersey. I had to fight for it until the very last stage, because the mountain stages provided equal points to a flat stage.
The biggest names for sprinting here: Meersman, Eisel, Adriato, Richeze, Maes.
Tucked away safely in the peloton. No mountains for me today, thanks!
The team showing its confidence in my sprinting abilities
Keukeleire leading me out perfectly
My first victory since the one in Paris - Nice. With a slightly uphill road, nobody even came close. It feels great to finally win again. Finally!
After stage 3, I also took the victory in stage 6, it was a close one here
The 8th and final stage. Three victories and the points jersey, yes!
Austria can be beautiful...
It was my first visit ever to Austria. I think I'll return here, I had a great time! It was the perfect way to restore my confidence. Now I can look forward to the rest of the season and I'll be looking for another victory somewhere. Let's hope I can start in the Tour of Poland.
National Championship - Time Trial 
another strong ride, but it seems both Matthias and Boonen made a similar mistake.
Too bad he couldn't deliver.
Tour de France 2014 
Österreich Rundfahrt 
