The most important day of the year for cycling fans in Belgium is the day that De Ronde van Vlaanderen is raced. This year, it's the 98th edition of the "Flanders most beautiful", and all the people in Flanders can talk about is who will be the successor of Thor Hushovd, who took the Flanders-Roubaix double last year. Will Tom Boonen take his 3rd win, or does Johan Vansummeren win his 1st win. A non-Belgian winning? Not possible!
The route
255 kilometres, 25 cobbled sections and 18 climbs are waiting for the riders. All the favourites have to pay attention on the early climbs, such as the Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg, not to loose time, also saving energy for the traditional final with the Muur van Geraardsbergen and Bosberg, before the finish awaits in Meerbeke.
The favourites
It's so difficult to point a favourite for De Ronde, as there are at least 10 riders that can win this race. Daily form will be the key word today. Tom Boonen (Sony Ericsson), Matti Breschel, Johan Vansummeren (Garmin). Fabian Cancellara (Saxo), Juan Antonio Flecha (Sky), Philippe Gilbert (Lotto). Sylvain Chavanel (Garmin), Thor Hushovd (BMC), Niki Terpstra.
170km to go
The weather is absolutely beautiful today, as the riders leave Brugge for the 255 kilometres towards and in the Flamish Ardennes. And when the weather can't play a vital role, the pace does. Several groups try to attack, but get caught everytime by the peloton. Looking at the fact that the domestiques of Garmin (Vansummeren & Chavanel) and Sony Ericsson (Boonen) are doing the chase every single time, that must mean that their leaders feel strong today.
Shortly before the ravitaiilement in Oudenaarde, a group of 12 riders finally manages to creat a gap bigger than 2 minutes. But given the fact that Rabo CT-rider Bert-Jan Lindeman is the best cobbler, with a stat of 64, it's obvious that the peloton is willing to let this group ride away.
81km to go
After 6 pretty easy climbs, the breakaway already has been caught. But these climbs, together with the high speed in the first 170 kilometres, make that only 55 riders are left in the first peloton. The Oude Kwaremont awaits.
76km to go
Nothing happens at the Oude Kwaremont, and the same goes for the Paterberg. The short climb with diabolic gradients of up to 20% at cobbles, probably frightens the riders to much to attack this early in the race.
65km to go
What the Oude Kwaremont and the Paterberg can't do, the Koppenberg does. The steep climb creates a split in the first group and 29 riders are riding 50 seconds in front of a 2nd group of 40. Some favourites have missed this cut, including Geraint Thomas, Lars Boom, Philippe Gilbert, Sebastian Langeveld, Juan Antonio Flecha and Sylvain Chavanel.
56km to go
The first 2 groups emerge, but than again, at the Eikenberg, a split occurs.. This time, 13 riders, including all our favourites, the FDJ-boys (Chainel and Offredo), Devolder, Flecha and Vansummeren are in the first group, while BMC, Sony Ericsson and Saxo Bank have to do the chase this time.
39km to go
When also the Valkenberg is done, the leading group consists of 25 riders. Of course, the 2 groups emerged, and the only favourite who is behind is Rabo's Lars Boom (here together with Rabo CT's Jetse Bol).
18km to go
The town of Geraardsbergen is approaching and so is it's famous Muur. Boom has managed to return in the leading group, but surprisingly, last years winner Thor Hushovd has been dropped!
16km to go
We decide to set a pace that is that high, no other riders even dare to attack. And we succeed in doing it! In the very steep Kapelmuur, there are no attacks, only 2 riders get dropped! Boring....
12km to go
The last obstacle before the finish in Meerbeke is the Bosberg. And finally, the first attack in over 100 kilometres occurs!! Tom Boonen is the one, not relying at his sprint. Countryman Johan Vansummeren immediately counters, and so doesMatti Breschel, realizing this can be THE attack.
10km to go
After the descned of the Bosberg, Vansummeren has a gap of 11 seconds to Boonen and Breschel. The chasing group follows at '33, which means everything is possible.
4km to go
First, the 2 chasers have closed the gap to Cairoli. Breschel has settled himself in the wheel of Boonen, realizing that this is the rider to watch in the sprint. Secondly, Philippe Gilbert has made the jump out of the chasing group. That group follows at 14 seconds, but wuth the leading 4 loosing speed, they're about to close the gap.
2500m to go
Johan Vansummeren is in the worst position when the sprint for the win starts. He's followed by Boonen, Breschel and Gilbert, knowing he won't win this one, although he's probably the strongest rider today.
1500m to go
Even before Boonen jumps over Vansummeren, he gets passed by the Saxo-duo Cancellara and Nuyens on the right and Filippo Pozatto on the left. Breschel is still in the wheel of Boonen, and is very, very patient.
500m to go
Coming out of the last corner, Boonen and Pozzato are in the lead, when Matti Breschel squeezes thorugh the small gap in between the 2. His speed his higher and is looking to get the win!
Finish
And he does! One year after Norwegian thunder, we get another Scandinavian win with Danish Dynamite. Matti Breschel wins De Ronde, beating Pozzato and Boonen! Cancellara finishes in 4th, in front of Maaskant and Terpstra takes the 8th place.
Results
1
Matti Breschel
Monster Energy - Subway
6h29'52
2
Filippo Pozzato
Katusha Team
s.t.
3
Tom Boonen
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
4
Fabian Cancellara
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
5
Martijn Maaskant
Monster Energy - Subway
s.t.
6
Nick Nuyens
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
7
Alessandro Ballan
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
8
Niki Terpstra
Monster Energy - Subway
s.t.
9
Philippe Gilbert
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
10
Johan Vansummeren
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Steve Chainel
FDJ
s.t.
12
Björn Leukemans
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
13
Stijn Devolder
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
14
Yohan Offredo
FDJ
s.t.
15
Juan Antonio Flecha
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
16
Sylvain Chavanel
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
17
Coen Vermeltfoort
Monster Energy - Subway
s.t.
18
Greg Van Avermaet
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
19
Sebastian Langeveld
Qantas Airways
+ 55
20
Manuel Quinziato
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
The winner
Word from the DS
And this is why we have signed Matti Breschel!!! What a great job, excellent tactical racing! No let's get some Belgian triple beers!
Enjoyed to read this one( only the boring part was boring )... great tactic and the finish was amazing... this was such an Monster win that it deserves one special banana...
@ all: Thanks guys! This was my first ever win in De Ronde (and Paris-Rooubaix) in any PCM career, so I'm stoked with it.
But still strange to see that no attack took place in the entire hill-section of the race, untill the Bosberg.... Look s like real life cycling
The week between De Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris - Roubaix is for the hilly riders, as they take part in the Vuelta al País Vasco. The question remains every year, wether riders aim for a good GC, or to prepare themselves for the Ardennes classics.
Last year, th erace was a nice battle between 3 Spanish riders (Antón, Contador & Rodríguez), with Alberto Contador taking the win, thanks to his TT-abilities.
The route
Traditionally, the Vuelta al País Vasco consists of many hilly stages, that suit climbers and puncheurs very well. Most of the climbs are short but extremely steep and should cause gaps in the GC. The final ITT will decide it all.
The first stage around Zumarraga is one of these typical hilly stages, and will bring differences in the GC immediately. The second one to Leikunberri also features a hill only a few kilometres before the finish. The 3rd stage to Zuia - Murgia is the longest one in this Vuelta, with 180 kilometres. The last hill is situtaed 15km before the finish, so a bunch sprint is more likely.
The toughest stage this year is the 4th one, with the Alto de Usartza (5.8km at 8.4%) shortly before the finish in Eibar. The 5th stage to Zalla is the most easiest one, as it has only a few hills in the beginning of it. It's a good opportunity for the GC-riders to save energy for the closing ITT around Zalla. But of course, this one is hily too!
The favourites *** Igor Antón (Euskaltel), Joaquím Rodríguez (Katusha), Roman Kreuziger (Astana). ** Well, many many riders.... Contador, Schleck-brothers, Fuglsang, Klöden, Leipheimer, Mollema, Sagan, Nibali, Cunego, Valverde, Uran, Basso, LL Sánchez, Monfort, Menchov, Taaramäe, S. Sánchez, Mosquera et. etc. etc.
Our goal
GC Top 10 (it's a preparation race for us).
The 78th edition of the Vuelta al País Vasco starts with a 151 kilometre long hilly stage with start and finish in Zumarraga. It features 6 categorized climbs, with the last summit only 2 kilometres before the finish.
75km to go
The first breakaway of the day, is the right one! Almost immediately after the start, Denis Menchov launches a surprise attack. Apparantly he won't aim for a good GC, but is looking for a stage win. As we believe this can be a succesful breakaway, Tom Dumoulin (who was right in the first ranks of the peloton) counters, together with Iñigo Cuesta (Caja Rural), Jan Kuyckx (Lotto) and Gavin Mannion (Sony Ericsson).
The 5 get the blessings from the peloton and create a gap of several minutes. Approaching the summit of today's hardest climb, the Alto de Elosua (7.7km at 7.0%), the margin is 6'14. But wth Menchov setting a high pace in the climbs, Dumoulin is already struggling to hang on.
32km to go Dumoulin does a fantastic job today, clinging in to the leading group. But he has a meeting with the man with the hammer at the dreadful Alto de Barbaris, with gradients up to 19%. There he has to let the others go. Before the summit, also Mannion and Kuyckx get dropped, meaning Cuesta and Menchov are the only ones left up front.
At this point, the peloton follows at 2'51, with José Rujano swimming in between at 1'30.
11km to go
Menchov and Cuesta round the penultimate summit of the day with a 36-second lead over Androni's José Rujano and 1'32 to a 51-rider peloton. This means, everything is still open for today, especially as the Euskaltel-boys setting a high pace in that peloton.
7km to go
A surprise attack by Igor Antón! He uses a short ascending part of the road before the last climb starts to attack out of the peloton. Nobody reacts at this moment, the GC-contenders are all a bit flabbergasted.
Antón still has to close a gap of 55 seconds to the 2 leaders. These leaders are Menchov and Rujano! Rujano has managed to close the gap to Menchov and Cuesta, and shortly after, the old Spaniard was hit by a hunger knock and got dropped.
3km to go
The last climb of the day has started. The Alto de la Antigua is only 2.6km short, but with an average gradient of 7.0% and max gradients of 15%, it's almost comparable to the Mur de Huy.
Antón uses his great hilly skills to close the gap to Rujano, who has dropped Menchov before. Less than 1km before the summit, Antón attacks again, and continues solo. The group of favourites is only '27 behind, when Kreuziger attacks out of it, followed by Rodríguez.
Finish
Rujano can't follow Antón, so the Basque reaches the summit with a save lead. Kreuziger and Rodríguez can't close the gap, while our riders try to minimize the loss today.
Just as last year, Igor Antón wins a stage in his own Vuelta al País Vasco. Roman Kreuziger finishes in 2nd place at 16 seconds, while JRod leads the group of favourites over the finish at '32. With Schleck in 4th, Sagan in 6th and Vanendert in 8th, our riders are really present at the front!
After the stage, we know what riders are only riding here to get in shape for the Ardennes classics or maybe the Giro, as they have lossed many minutes today:
+ 1'29: Samuel Sánchez, Maxime Monfort, Simon Gerrans.
+ 2'08: Alejandro Valverder.
+ 7'35: Jakob Fuglsang, Jurgen Van den Broeck, Bauke Mollema, Rein Taaramäe.
+ 8'07: Alberto Contador, Levi Leipheimer, Bradley Wiggins, Ivan Basso.
Results & GC
1
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
4h24'45
2
Roman Kreuziger
Pro Team Astana
+ 16
3
Joaquím Rodríguez
Katusha Team
+ 32
4
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Subway
s.t.
5
Michel Kreder
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
6
Peter Sagan
Monster Energy - Subway
s.t.
7
Luis León Sánchez
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
8
Jelle Vanendert
Monster Energy - Subway
s.t.
9
Ángel Madrazo
Movistar Team
s.t.
10
Vasil Kiryienka
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
Spoiler
11
José Serpa
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
12
Vincenzo Nibali
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
13
Rigoberto Urán
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
14
Fränk Schleck
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
15
Damiano Cunego
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
16
Laurens Ten Dam
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
17
Rob Ruijgh
Monster Energy - Subway
s.t.
18
Chris Froome
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
19
Chris Anker Sørensen
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
20
José Rujano
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
21
Thomas De Gendt
Monster Energy - Subway
s.t.
22
Daniel Moreno
Katusha Team
s.t.
23
Christian Knees
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
24
Romain Sicard
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
25
José Ángel Gómez Marchante
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
26
Kevin Seeldraeyers
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
27
Samuel Sánchez
Lampre - Generali
+ 1'29
28
Stefan Schumacher
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
29
Rubén Plaza
Movistar Team
s.t.
30
Evgeni Petrov
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
31
Maxime Monfort
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
32
Simon Gerrans
Qantas Airways
s.t.
33
Imanol Erviti
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
34
Alejandro Valverde
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 2'08
35
Michael Albasini
Red Bull - Cervélo
s.t.
36
Denis Menchov
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
37
Tanel Kangert
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
38
Íñigo Cuesta
Caja Rural
+ 2'34
39
Ben Hermans
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
40
Arnold Jeanneson
FDJ
+ 3'34
41
Giovanni Visconti
BMC Racing Team
+ 3'49
42
Anthony Geslin
FDJ
s.t.
43
Gavin Mannion
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
44
Eros Capecchi
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
45
Marcel Wyss
Red Bull - Cervélo
s.t.
46
Simone Ponzi
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 4'29
47
Kevin De Weert
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
48
Manuele Mori
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
49
Heinrich Haussler
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
50
Tom Dumoulin
Monster Energy - Subway
s.t.
51
David López
Movistar Team
s.t.
52
Jan Kuyckx
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
53
Andriy Grivko
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
54
Aitor Galdos
Caja Rural
s.t.
55
Rui Costa
Movistar Team
+ 6'20
56
Federico Canuti
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
57
Pieter Weening
Qantas Airways
s.t.
58
Eduard Prades
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
59
Christophe Riblon
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
60
Jakob Fuglsang
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 7'07
61
Vladimir Karpets
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
62
Tosh Van der Sande
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 7'35
63
Jurgen Van den Broeck
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
64
Daniel Navarro
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
65
Valerio Agnoli
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
66
Bauke Mollema
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
67
Rein Taaramäe
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
68
Michael Rogers
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
69
Wout Poels
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
70
Tom Danielson
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 8'07
71
Alberto Contador
Movistar Team
s.t.
72
Gustavo César Veloso
Caja Rural
s.t.
73
Johann Tschopp
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
74
Christophe Le Mével
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
75
Tom Slagter
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
76
Massimiliano Gentili
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
77
Enrico Gasparotto
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
78
Levi Leipheimer
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
79
Bradley Wiggins
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
80
Ivan Basso
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
81
Yannick Eijssen
BMC Racing Team
+ 8'38
82
Andrew Talansky
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
83
Sérgio Paulinho
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
84
Nicki Sørensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
85
Danny Pate
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
86
Aketza Peña
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
87
Pim Ligthart
Monster Energy - Subway
+ 9'28
88
Andreas Klöden
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
89
Rubén Pérez
Movistar Team
s.t.
90
Kanstantsin Siutsou
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
91
Sergey Firsanov
Katusha Team
s.t.
92
Joan Horrach
Katusha Team
s.t.
93
Omar Fraile
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
94
Nikolas Maes
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
95
Matthew Lloyd
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
96
Diego Milán
Caja Rural
+ 10'20
97
Tony Martin
Red Bull - Cervélo
+ 10'53
98
Ángel Vicioso
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
99
Francesco Ginanni
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
100
Sébastien Minard
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
101
Daniel Oss
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
102
Grega Bole
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
103
Garikoitz Bravo
Caja Rural
s.t.
104
Linus Gerdemann
Red Bull - Cervélo
s.t.
105
Marco Marzano
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
106
Matthias Brändle
Red Bull - Cervélo
s.t.
107
Mirco Lorenzetto
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
108
Gerald Ciolek
Red Bull - Cervélo
s.t.
109
Russell Downing
Qantas Airways
+ 12'36
110
Ezequiel Mosquera
Caja Rural
s.t.
111
Gianni Meersman
FDJ
+ 12'53
112
Francisco Pérez
Caja Rural
s.t.
113
Reinier Honig
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
114
Sergio Pardilla
Movistar Team
s.t.
115
Matteo Montaguti
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
116
Daniel Teklehaimanot
FDJ
s.t.
117
Paolo Longo Borghini
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
118
Guillaume Blot
FDJ
s.t.
119
André Steensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
120
Cédric Pineau
FDJ
s.t.
121
Jonas Aaen Jørgensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
122
David Zabriskie
Qantas Airways
+ 13'58
123
Steven Kruijswijk
Qantas Airways
s.t.
124
Romain Bardet
FDJ
s.t.
125
Job Vissers
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 14'17
126
Ian Stannard
Sky ProCycling
+ 14'40
127
Maxime Vantomme
Katusha Team
s.t.
128
Dominique Rollin
FDJ
+ 17'38
129
Carlos Oyarzun
Movistar Team
+ 18'08
130
Taylor Phinney
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
131
Xabier Zandio
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
132
Igor Abakoumov
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
133
Vincenzo Garofalo
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
134
Omar Lombardi
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
135
Frederique Robert
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
136
Mads Christensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
137
Elia Rigotto
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
138
Gianluca Mirenda
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
139
Daniele Colli
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 19'44
140
Maarten Neyens
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
141
Steven Van Vooren
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 20'07
142
Zdenek Stybar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
143
Pieter Serry
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
144
Kris Boeckmans
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
145
Frantisek Rabon
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
146
Luca Barla
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
147
Alexandre Vinokourov
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
148
Davide Viganò
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
149
Martin Reimer
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
150
Davide Cimolai
Androni Giocattoli
+ 22'04
151
Alexander Porsev
Katusha Team
+ 22'25
152
Alexandre Botcharov
Katusha Team
+ 23'44
153
Klemente Mitxeo
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 24'55
154
Maxim Lefèvre
Monster Energy - Subway
+ 25'12
155
Vitali Kondrut
Lampre - Generali
+ 26'28
156
Rob Goris
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
157
Alexei Markov
Katusha Team
s.t.
158
Graeme Brown
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 26'53
159
Eloy Teruel
Caja Rural
+ 28'42
160
Stéphane Poulhiès
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 29'52
161
Leigh Howard
Qantas Airways
s.t.
162
Daniele Righi
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
163
Michel Koch
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
164
Martin Kohler
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
165
Giorgio Brambilla
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
166
Paul Voss
Red Bull - Cervélo
s.t.
167
Manuele Caddeo
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
Points
1
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
25
2
Roman Kreuziger
Pro Team Astana
20
3
Joaquím Rodríguez
Katusha Team
16
4
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Subway
14
5
Michel Kreder
Garmin - Barracuda
12
Points
1
Íñigo Cuesta
Caja Rural
11
2
Denis Menchov
Liquigas - Cannondale
10
3
Jan Kuyckx
Lotto - Belisol
8
4
Gavin Mannion
Sony Ericsson
7
5
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
6
Today's winner
Word from the DS
We already no what riders that aim for a good GC-position. Only 26 are left for the GC-win and among them are 5 from the Monster Energy - Subway team. And Antón is lookings really, really strong!
Edited by dienblad on 09-06-2012 11:07
(kidding)
Definately calls for a banana or 2 
