Eneco Tour was probably the stage race I was most interested in contesting this year. Right now, I feel like it suits me the best and the after effects of the two Grand Tours may be felt for many riders. But my legs, they feel fresh and they are ready and I was eager to impress. It’s another beautiful race in Belgium for what it’s worth and it soon ended up becoming a dream of mine.
With bonus seconds at the finish line (10,6,4 sec) and intermediate sprints (6,4,2 sec) and my bluntly obvious weakness in Time Trials, I had a bit of a daring plan to have a decent GC position ahead of the finale stage, which featured the infamous Muur van Geraardsbergen.
Stage 1 was a short prologue and I ended up losing already time. 27 seconds on the stage’s winner Taylor Phinney. Certainly neither Prologue nor Time Trials, or as a matter of fact anything involving me fighting against clocks, is not particularly my strength. I may have to work on that in the future, but for now… let’s race.
An utterly flat stage was featured as the second one and Cannondale delivered quite a surprise there. We were alert and ready in the finale and I had massive great legs. As a result, I had to watch out for Sabatini’s backwheel, to protect it. There were some cobblestones early on but none of them was a factor for the stage’s finale. There Gatto leaded the bunch after Kristoff and Boasson Hagen made surprisingly attacks 5 kms from the race. We kept ourselves up there, but Sabatini was already suffering in the wind. When he headed into the finale corner, Cannondale seemed to go clear and I was right there behind Sabatini, and then I just moved passed him. I kept myself in front of everyone. And I passed Fabio there and just felt unstoppable for a moment there. I was trying to go fast and I was going damn fast.
And I won the stage! A massive day I thought. A quick joy overcame me, but when I looked back, I felt incredible bad: Sabatini finished 2nd. I felt like I just stole him his victory. I was at a loss for words and was saying sorry and sorry over again. I couldn’t be happy anymore at the table. I’m young and I was always proud to be teamplayer. Now I just felt like a guy with a knife, ready to stab his teammates… I slept badly that night; did you ever do that after a victory?
There were no goose bumps, no joy, not the feeling I appreciated so much in my young years. I refused to do an interview after the stage, it didn't feel like this was my stage win. It should have been Fabios.
But when I woke up, and looked out of the window, that odd feeling, that regret was gone and I could smile as I realized I had won a World Tour stage the previous day.
Stage 2 Results
Rank
Name
Team
Time
1
Raphael Visconti
Cannondale
4h37'07
2
Fabio Sabatini
Cannondale
s.t.
3
Klaas Lodewyck
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
Spoiler
4
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Team Sky
s.t.
5
Tyler Farrar
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
6
Andrey Amador
Movistar Team
s.t.
7
Oscar Gatto
Cannondale
s.t.
8
Matti Breschel
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
9
Luke Durbridge
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
10
André Greipel
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
11
Taylor Phinney
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
12
Alexander Kristoff
Team Katusha
s.t.
13
Luca Paolini
Team Katusha
s.t.
14
Bryan Coquard
Team Europcar
s.t.
15
Michał Kwiatkowski
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
16
Francisco José Ventoso
Movistar Team
s.t.
17
Philippe Gilbert
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
18
Thomas De Gendt
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
19
Anton Vorobyev
Team Katusha
s.t.
20
Nairo Quintana
Movistar Team
s.t.
21
Joshua Edmondson
Team Sky
s.t.
22
Chris Froome
Team Sky
s.t.
23
Tom Boonen
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
24
Jasha Sütterlin
Movistar Team
s.t.
25
Leigh Howard
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
26
Adriano Malori
Movistar Team
s.t.
27
Sebastian Lander
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
28
Roman Kreuziger
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
29
Jens Keukeleire
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
30
Jurgen Van den Broeck
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
31
Jasper Stuyven
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
32
Mitchell Docker
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
33
Koldo Fernández
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
34
Borut Božic
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
35
Maarten Wynants
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
36
Pieter Weening
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
37
Theo Bos
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
38
Rubén Plaza
Movistar Team
s.t.
39
Andrea Guardini
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
40
Ben King
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
41
Tom Dumoulin
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
42
Zdenek Stybar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
43
Simon Yates
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
44
Johan Vansummeren
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
45
Ion Izagirre
Movistar Team
s.t.
46
Jack Bauer
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
47
Sebastian Langeveld
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
48
Sea Keong Loh
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
49
Moreno Hofland
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
50
Mikel Landa
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
51
Alex Howes
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
52
Andriy Grivko
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
53
Evan Huffman
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
54
Adam Yates
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
55
Markel Irizar
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
56
Niki Terpstra
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
57
Kristof Vandewalle
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
58
Ruslan Tleubayev
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
59
Hayden Roulston
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
60
Andy Schleck
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
61
Daniel Martin
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
62
Steven Kruijswijk
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
63
Lars Boom
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
64
Geraint Thomas
Team Sky
s.t.
65
Daniele Bennati
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
66
Jacopo Guarnieri
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
67
Stijn Vandenbergh
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
68
Alberto Bettiol
Cannondale
s.t.
69
Lawson Craddock
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
70
Gediminas Bagdonas
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
71
Grégory Rast
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
72
Christian Knees
Team Sky
s.t.
73
Jesse Sergent
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
74
Arthur Vichot
FDJ.fr
s.t.
75
Michael Schär
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
76
Rory Sutherland
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
77
Salvatore Puccio
Team Sky
s.t.
78
Maciej Bodnar
Cannondale
s.t.
79
Paolo Longo Borghini
Cannondale
s.t.
80
Marc Goos
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
81
Simon Geschke
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
82
Maxim Iglinskiy
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
83
Benoît Vaugrenard
FDJ.fr
s.t.
84
Ivan Rovny
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
85
Sébastien Minard
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
86
Marcel Kittel
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
87
Matteo Montaguti
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
88
Stijn Devolder
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
89
Thibaut Pinot
FDJ.fr
s.t.
90
Alexis Vuillermoz
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
91
Greg Van Avermaet
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
92
Peter Stetina
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
93
Jens Mouris
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
94
José Joaquín Rojas
Movistar Team
s.t.
95
Sep Vanmarcke
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
96
Tim Wellens
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
97
Jempy Drucker
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
98
Matthieu Ladagnous
FDJ.fr
s.t.
99
David Boucher
FDJ.fr
s.t.
100
Sander Armee
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
101
Davide Cimolai
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
102
Yannick Eijssen
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
103
Edwig Cammaerts
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
104
Tim Declercq
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
105
Manuele Boaro
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
106
Nicolas Edet
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
107
Björn Leukemans
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
108
Michel Koch
Cannondale
s.t.
109
Dries Devenyns
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
110
Filippo Pozzato
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
111
Christophe Kern
Team Europcar
s.t.
112
Diego Ulissi
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
113
Aleksandr Kuschynski
Team Katusha
s.t.
114
Marko Kump
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
115
Thomas Degand
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
116
Elia Favilli
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
117
Stig Broeckx
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
118
Olivier Kaisen
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
119
Arnaud Demare
FDJ.fr
s.t.
120
Jürgen Roelandts
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
121
Zico Waeytens
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
122
Nacer Bouhanni
FDJ.fr
s.t.
123
Chad Haga
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
124
Jan Polanc
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
125
Morgan Lamoisson
Team Europcar
s.t.
126
Gijs Van Hoecke
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
127
Frederik Veuchelen
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
128
Cyril Gautier
Team Europcar
s.t.
129
Alexis Gougeard
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
130
Mark Renshaw
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
131
Alan Marangoni
Cannondale
s.t.
132
Lloyd Mondory
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
133
Nathan Earle
Team Sky
s.t.
134
Adrien Petit
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
135
Gert Joeaar
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
136
Mirko Selvaggi
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
137
Alessandro Petacchi
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
138
Bert De Backer
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
139
Eduard Vorganov
Team Katusha
s.t.
140
Nikolai Trussov
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
141
Kenny Dehaes
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
142
Pieter Vanspeybrouck
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
143
Alexandre Pichot
Team Europcar
s.t.
144
Tony Hurel
Team Europcar
s.t.
145
Romain Lemarchand
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
146
Frederique Robert
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
147
Luca Dodi
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
148
Guillaume Bonnafond
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
149
Eliot Lietaer
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
150
Perrig Quemeneur
Team Europcar
s.t.
151
Louis Verhelst
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
152
Preben Van Hecke
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
153
Sacha Modolo
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
154
James Vanlandschoot
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
155
Christophe Laporte
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
156
Jasper De Buyst
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
157
Patrick Gretsch
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 3'56
158
Barry Markus
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 4'34
159
Jérôme Cousin
Team Europcar
s.t.
160
Yury Trofimov
Team Katusha
s.t.
161
Anthony Roux
FDJ.fr
s.t.
162
Sergey Chernetskiy
Team Katusha
s.t.
163
Jonathan Tiernan-Locke
Team Sky
s.t.
164
Alexander Rybakov
Team Katusha
s.t.
165
Mattia Cattaneo
Lampre - Merida
+ 6'03
166
Laurens De Vreese
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
167
Romain Zingle
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
168
Yves Lampaert
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
With this great feeling, I proclaimed a bit of a free role at the team briefing in the morning. The DS and my teammates agreed and so I was free to attack on stage 3 and I took advantage of that. I wanted to grab as many bonus seconds as possible since I knew that it was unlikely we would make it to the finish anyway. With Leukemans and Iglinksiy I was in the break of the day on a horrible, rainy day. I managed to get 12 bonus seconds, and after the many small hills I put behind me, the peloton catched us eventually. I had invested quite some energy and effort for those few bonus seconds in the moody weather of Belgium, but it was a hard day’s work and I was satisfied with it. Greipel ended up winning stage 3.
The moment I got caught.
Another stage with a few slight and small hills was featured the next day, but honestly it was a rather flat one again. I had to go again for some bonus seconds as there was an intermediate early on in the race and I powered myself really out for 6 seconds because Greipel’s Lotto Belisol team chased me hard each time I made a push for it. In fact, I did way too much for some lousy bonus seconds. I could have used that energy easily later on. But done was done, and maybe it was a lesson that I needed to learn.
I wasn’t part of the break later on, but they got caught 10 kilometers from the finish. Another german wins the stage this time, Marcel Kittel. Meanwhile, Edvald Boasson Hagen collected enough bonus seconds himself to take over the leader’s jersey from Phinney.
No surprise to see Sagan winning San Sebastian ( he is built for that race in PCM terms!). Good to see 'other' Cannondale riders such as Marcato showing well and winning.
Great start to the Eneco tour by Raphael, I hope it wasn't down to passive AI! He may have an outside shot at the GC with the harder days to come in the last few stages.
It was a bit of a weird sprint (after all, Raphael won it with 64 SP) but the AI was in fact very active. I just think that attacks by Kristoff, EBH and Phinney messed up the usual sprint trains a bit. I must admit I was really surprised.
Edited by Shonak on 05-04-2014 21:02
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
1. who is this Visconti guy I keep hearing so much about?
2. why did he steal Fabio's victory?
3. were did EBH take over the leaders jersey?
4. were did Kittel take over the leaders jersey?
5. how did they managed to do 4 stages in 4 hours?
so many questions, so little knowledge. hence the questions
After my victory and the efforts so far at the Eneco Tour, I was sure that I was good to go, ready to race. That my legs were definitely good, they felt easy again. I felt ominous sensations and that was a good sign.
We had a stage 5 to Valkenburg on a sunny day. The last 70 kilometers consisted of very hilly terrain and I had hoped for some racing that may have suited me, meaning early splits and that I could keep upfront. At least they first thing worked out, when there were only about 45 riders left in the peloton at the 20 kilometers mark. However soon thereafter Froome paced for race leader Boasson Hagen and they followed the attacks by Bennatti and Quintana. They were caught though by Tinkoff Saxo and Omega Pharma and I thought there may be a bit of a pause, but just at the next hill, Froome, Kreuziger, Kwiatkowski and Boasson Hagen tried it again. With so much quality upfront, I had to push through the ranks and made a move myself. Grivko and Phinney joined in, but surprisingly only Grivko wanted to help me get to Group Boasson Hagen. I couldn’t believe Phinney honestly since he’d been a rider that would have profited the most from catching Edvald. But nevermind him, I was riding for victories and I was riding hard. The reason why Phinney didn’t work must have been Gilbert, and the Belgian eventually caught me with his group, consisting of guys like Van den Broeck, Martin and Vanmarcke, but that cost them too.
With 5 kilometers left, it was too little for them to recover fully, although Gilbert attacked, but I followed Martin’s wheel then and the sprint up to Valkenburg turned out be easy for me with a such lead-out. I just overtook him when I went faster than him and went past him and I was flying. There were Froome, Boasson Hagen and everybody upfront and the closer I got to them, the faster I was going. I reached them and came in 3rd behind Froome, whon won, and Kwiatkowski. I looked back and they were still fighting up there way. I wanted to kiss my legs at that point. They felt tired, but I felt fabulous and soon thereafter, my legs could have easily stayed on a cloud.
Stage 5, Results
Rank
Name
Team
Time
1
Chris Froome
Team Sky
4h55'19
2
Michał Kwiatkowski
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
3
Raphael Visconti
Cannondale
s.t.
Spoiler
4
Lars Boom
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
5
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Team Sky
s.t.
6
Daniel Martin
Garmin Sharp
+ 17
7
Philippe Gilbert
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
8
Daniele Bennati
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
9
Andrey Amador
Movistar Team
s.t.
10
Andriy Grivko
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
11
Jurgen Van den Broeck
Lotto Belisol
+ 41
12
Taylor Phinney
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
13
Nairo Quintana
Movistar Team
+ 57
14
Francisco José Ventoso
Movistar Team
+ 1'20
15
Oscar Gatto
Cannondale
s.t.
16
Ion Izagirre
Movistar Team
s.t.
17
Pieter Weening
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
18
Thomas De Gendt
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
19
Adriano Malori
Movistar Team
s.t.
20
Geraint Thomas
Team Sky
s.t.
21
Niki Terpstra
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
22
Tom Boonen
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
23
Salvatore Puccio
Team Sky
s.t.
24
Sebastian Langeveld
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
25
Luke Durbridge
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
26
Jürgen Roelandts
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
27
Jens Keukeleire
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
28
Simon Yates
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
29
Diego Ulissi
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
30
Thibaut Pinot
FDJ.fr
s.t.
31
Benoît Vaugrenard
FDJ.fr
s.t.
32
Kristof Vandewalle
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
33
Arthur Vichot
FDJ.fr
s.t.
34
Grégory Rast
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
35
José Joaquín Rojas
Movistar Team
s.t.
36
Hayden Roulston
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
37
Marko Kump
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
38
Adam Yates
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
39
Sander Armee
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
40
Leigh Howard
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
41
Matthieu Ladagnous
FDJ.fr
s.t.
42
Christophe Kern
Team Europcar
s.t.
43
Ivan Rovny
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
44
Sergey Chernetskiy
Team Katusha
s.t.
45
Mattia Cattaneo
Lampre - Merida
+ 2'40
46
Maxim Iglinskiy
Astana Pro Team
+ 6'14
47
Yannick Eijssen
BMC Racing Team
+ 6'28
48
Bryan Coquard
Team Europcar
s.t.
49
Romain Zingle
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
50
Nicolas Edet
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
51
Peter Stetina
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
52
Theo Bos
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
53
Rubén Plaza
Movistar Team
s.t.
54
Adrien Petit
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
55
Jan Polanc
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
56
Nathan Earle
Team Sky
s.t.
57
Alessandro Petacchi
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
58
Davide Cimolai
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
59
Gert Joeaar
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
60
Jesse Sergent
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
61
Alexandre Pichot
Team Europcar
s.t.
62
Pieter Vanspeybrouck
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
63
Mark Renshaw
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
64
Zico Waeytens
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
65
Marc Goos
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
66
Steven Kruijswijk
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
67
Stijn Vandenbergh
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
68
Jérôme Cousin
Team Europcar
s.t.
69
Sea Keong Loh
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
70
Jacopo Guarnieri
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
71
Tom Dumoulin
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
72
Rory Sutherland
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
73
Matti Breschel
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
74
Frederik Veuchelen
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
75
Tyler Farrar
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
76
Jasha Sütterlin
Movistar Team
s.t.
77
Roman Kreuziger
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
78
Olivier Kaisen
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
79
Tim Wellens
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
80
Laurens De Vreese
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
81
Zdenek Stybar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
82
Manuele Boaro
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
83
Gijs Van Hoecke
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
84
Maciej Bodnar
Cannondale
s.t.
85
Lloyd Mondory
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
86
Gediminas Bagdonas
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
87
Andrea Guardini
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
88
Luca Paolini
Team Katusha
s.t.
89
Edwig Cammaerts
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
90
Marcel Kittel
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
91
Nikolai Trussov
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
92
Romain Lemarchand
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
93
Guillaume Bonnafond
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
94
Alexander Rybakov
Team Katusha
s.t.
95
Thomas Degand
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
96
Yury Trofimov
Team Katusha
s.t.
97
Alan Marangoni
Cannondale
s.t.
98
Aleksandr Kuschynski
Team Katusha
s.t.
99
Filippo Pozzato
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
100
Eduard Vorganov
Team Katusha
s.t.
101
Louis Verhelst
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
102
Frederique Robert
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
103
Jasper Stuyven
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
104
Tim Declercq
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
105
Michael Schär
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
106
André Greipel
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
107
Elia Favilli
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
108
Stig Broeckx
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
109
Arnaud Demare
FDJ.fr
s.t.
110
Cyril Gautier
Team Europcar
s.t.
111
Simon Geschke
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
112
Kenny Dehaes
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
113
Preben Van Hecke
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
114
Alex Howes
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
115
Klaas Lodewyck
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
116
Bert De Backer
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
117
Mirko Selvaggi
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
118
Jack Bauer
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
119
David Boucher
FDJ.fr
s.t.
120
Joshua Edmondson
Team Sky
s.t.
121
Alexis Vuillermoz
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
122
Chad Haga
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
123
Jonathan Tiernan-Locke
Team Sky
s.t.
124
Maarten Wynants
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
125
Moreno Hofland
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
126
Luca Dodi
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
127
Sébastien Minard
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
128
Mikel Landa
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
129
Lawson Craddock
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
130
Eliot Lietaer
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
131
Dries Devenyns
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
132
Barry Markus
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
133
James Vanlandschoot
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
134
Jempy Drucker
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
135
Anthony Roux
FDJ.fr
s.t.
136
Stijn Devolder
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
137
Koldo Fernández
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
138
Paolo Longo Borghini
Cannondale
s.t.
139
Alberto Bettiol
Cannondale
s.t.
140
Ruslan Tleubayev
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
141
Michel Koch
Cannondale
s.t.
142
Anton Vorobyev
Team Katusha
s.t.
143
Evan Huffman
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
144
Yves Lampaert
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
145
Alexis Gougeard
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
146
Jens Mouris
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
147
Nacer Bouhanni
FDJ.fr
s.t.
148
Björn Leukemans
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
149
Sebastian Lander
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
150
Morgan Lamoisson
Team Europcar
s.t.
151
Christophe Laporte
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
152
Johan Vansummeren
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
153
Tony Hurel
Team Europcar
s.t.
154
Jasper De Buyst
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
155
Ben King
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
156
Perrig Quemeneur
Team Europcar
s.t.
157
Markel Irizar
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
158
Patrick Gretsch
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
159
Andy Schleck
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
160
Greg Van Avermaet
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
161
Matteo Montaguti
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
162
Sep Vanmarcke
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
163
Christian Knees
Team Sky
s.t.
164
Borut Božic
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
165
Fabio Sabatini
Cannondale
s.t.
166
Mitchell Docker
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
167
Sacha Modolo
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
168
Alexander Kristoff
Team Katusha
s.t.
The next day, stage 6, my legs though were heavy and useless. The time trial around Roermond turned into a disaster. However, I didn’t expect much. I still got even less though. I was fighting there, but lost a minute and twenty seconds onto Phinney. The worst thing: I would have nearly got caught by Froome in the end. Those 14 kilometers were just enough to save me from an embarrassment. No more good sensations left for the Muur.
On the last stage from Teeinen to Geraardsbergen, I was particuarlaly motivated again. My legs were getting a bit heavy and surely the Time Trial on the previous day had mostly destroyed all my GC hopes. However, I had still a good position thanks to the trip to Valkenburg, and when I proclaimed that I wanted to go full-throttle today, I was surprised when the team said, they’d support me.
So we did our usual thing: Like in the spring classics, we pushed hard as soon as we hit the cobblestones of Geraardsbergen at around 75 kilometers. On this circuit, we had to conquer three times the Muur van Geraardsbergern.
While we sent Bodnar upfront, Cannondale had Sabatini and Gatto take turns at the second time riding Muur van Geraardsbergen. With their pace, the peloton really suffered big-time. Like a yo-yo many riders dropped and had to fight to get back. Later on, Bodnar let himself deliberately drop from the break of the day to help us out further back. Cannondale managed at some point to form a group of merely 19 riders, where riders like Froome and Boonen were dropped. However, Boasson Hagen and Kwiatkowski were still in my group. Terpstra eventually ended up working for Kwiatkowski and thus helped in our pacing. From time to time, there were heavy crosswinds, which of course suited us and allowed for some echelons and unexpected splits after the tough cobblestone passages.
When we hit the last time the Muur, I had to attack eventually. You can’t have your team working all day long and don’t do nothing. The first time, I didn’t get far and Omega Pharma and Sky caught me again, but after the Muur, on a second try, I got out of their fangs and out of their reach, and was ready to push. Edvald Boasson Hagen, the leader of the race, was on my wheel. I thought that this was my chance and I pushed over the last segment of cobblestones, 20 kilometers of flat road ahead of me.
Surprisingly, and much to my dismay, Edvald Boasson Hagen, although being the leader, wasn’t interested in helping my effort. Instead, he just stayed at my wheel, while I was doing all of the work. I couldn’t believe him, really. I told him that his opponents are very close in the Classification and that he shouldn’t rely on a sprint. But he denied any work still. And then I just shaked my head and instead kept riding and riding… That's what you do in such a situation: You ride anway.
I wasn’t strong enough to keep the peloton at bay. They came closer again, since Omega Pharma and BMC were pushing strong and they knew how to handle such stages. But that turned out to be my luck. I had already invested so much into this race when there were only 10, 8, 7 kilometers left. They nearly caught us and Boasson Hagen decided to drop back in the peloton, but I kept pushing. I didn’t care for the classification. I had invested so much at that point, I wanted to keep going until they had me for sure. As long as I had more than three meters lead, I wouldn’t stop at any cost.
So I was nearly caught with 5 kilometers to go as we entered Geraardsbergen for the finale. However, when I looked back, there was suddenly no one there. My chasing group must have had different opinions and there may have been some issues between the riders, and they gave me too much lead and when the road was downhill, I suddenly gained meter on meter and second and second on them. I didn’t see them anymore for a while and I felt like flying.
That was until Philippe Gilbert came up to me on the last 2 kilometers and bridged the gap. He was riding strong but was lacking the strength to really overtake me in the finale uphill sprint up to the finish. I kept myself surprisingly easily ahead of him, and I looked back and suddenly there was Edvald Boasson Hagen rushing towards us. Again him. I thought, no, that can’t be it right now. He was coming so fast, and the finish line drew close so slow and I felt like I was standing there and striking my pedals and not moving a single inch forward at all. Gilbert’s heavy breathing behind me, the fans all around me cheering for him or me, and some wanted to see my reward. And then there were only 100 meters left and Boasson Hagen was right next to me, and I just kept the speed up somehow. And the Norwegian… I wanted to kick him off the bike, when there were only 10 meters left, and I had a lead of merely centimeters left when I crossed the line. I immediately knew it though. Without much energy left, I pushed my body over the finish.
Right on the line there.
Grande!
For the first few minutes I was just lying in the gutter, breathing heavily. I was empty, and proud. Some helpers were around and wanted to help me on my feet, I just said, that they should leave me alone. Just for a moment.
Impressions
Spoiler
Later, the race reporters asked me traditionally some questions. It’s nice to share your thoughts after such a race.
Interviewer: Mister Visconti, so – how does it feel?
This is’a just incredible. To win duo stages here in Belgium, and when one of them ends here in Geraardsbergo after taking on the Muur, it’s a-a-a… it’s incredible for me. I want to thank my team, they did an incredible job for me today. I really wanted to ride here today and erm… ride good here. So I attacked, and when Edvald didn’t want to cooperate, I just thought that I need to keep riding. I had no lead, I had nothing in my hands. Otherwise all the work would have been for nothing, and I don’t want to ride for nothing. So I kept going. I thought they had caught me at one point, but they didn’t. They must have thought so too. And then, yeah… I was lucky it was enough in the end.
Interviewer: Merely centimeters between you and Edvald. You said he didn’t want to work with you, do you know why? What did you talk about at Kilometer 20?
Yes, yes. I think, he relied on his sprint and his acceleration. He knew he had a good team and only had to wheelsuck today, so yes… I understand that he didn’t want to invest more energy than necessary. If he worked with me and Kwiatkowski dropped us in the finale, than he’d be the stupid one. But, well… I would have preferred it if he just dropped from my wheel entirely then if he’s not going to do any work. I don’t need such people on my wheel.
And if he would have taken the win from me today, either by riding with me or outsprinting me there, than I would have… I don’t know, probably punched a wall or something [laughs]. He still wins Eneco Tour, so I think he doesn’t mind too much. But I wasn’t really scared of him in the sprint. I feared Gilbert when he rushing towards me, because Gilbert is a rider to be afraid of, he is crazy strong. But Edvald… well, he just turned up there. I had no time to worry, and when I noticed Edvald, I was so close to the line, I didn’t think so much anymore.
Interviewer: Winning Dwars door Vlaanderen and now two stages at Eneco Tour, both with pave. You most certainly enjoy riding here in Belgium.
Ah, yes. Belgium is’a very kind to me. It’s a wonderful country with amazing fans and a great, great cycling culture. Italy and Belgium. I could travel between both countries all my life and it woulda be a wonderful life for any cyclists.
Interviewer: With your recent success in the Road racing, will there be a focus-shift. You are quite a CX talent and have recently signed a new contract with Cannondale. What’s your plans for the upcoming seasons?
I want to ride of course many, many road races. I know that riders don’t like to ride all spring classics, that riders either choose Flanders Classics or Ardennes classics. But I want to ride all of them, and my wish is to be competitive there at some point. Those are the races that suit me and that impress me. And those are the races that turn you into a great rider. [takes a nip of the water bottle] But honestly, Cyclo-Cross is a deep, very deep passion. I’d like to ride both disciplines and do well in both. You could say, road racing, it’s for my sanity, you know. CX adds that insane, unpredictable part that life needs to have for me. You can’t control CX, it’s muddy madness sometimes. Road racing is my life, but… Cyclo-Cross is my love.
Interviewer: Looks like we’ll be seeing you in Belgium again come Autumn & Winter then. Thank you for your time!
and looking good for an Overall top ten finish 
this is a hell of a report.. 
