The teams first incursion into this race was a good one, mainly thanks to Feillu, who showed excellent form, winning the short TT stage and taking home the points jersey. Roche shows well for the first time, before the Giro.
Episode 3:
Well I couldn't fulfil my personal goals but I was really lifted by the performance by Romain. He rode out of his skin to win the TT, but even so was still disappointed because he wanted to wear the yellow jersey here, what a character. That was a strange TT it looks like the sprinters really went for it, anyway I was really glad to have completed this race and I am looking forward to the next one. Hopefully it is the stage race in the Sarth department, so I will can get some more races in France under my belt.
This is the big warm up race for the April classics. Containing two flat stages sandwiched in between a classics type first stage and a final stage TT.
In picture, two riders behind world champ Boassen Hagen is Salomein. Riding for Kenda he leads the continental rankings, hence the white jersey, he has done brilliantly in the cobbled races he has taken part in and is my favourite out of the other riders for success here.
A 13 man break got away including Pozzato (who would lead the KOM jersey) and van Lerberghe.
The break appeared to be in control with 30 kilometres to go.
However, with 8 kilometres to go van Lerberghe still has over 1:00 to the peloton as the final hills and cobbles are dealt with. Youtube and Rabobank domestiques are weakening so Salomein attacks, Boom, Boassen Hagen and Polazzi counter immediately. Cavendish and Gallopin a bit off.
It is an epic struggle between Salomein and Boassen Hagen, the world champ just prevailing. Gallopin finishes strongly and is fortunate to get the same time as the stage winner. The race really broken up today, favourite Lander lost an absolute packet.
A 12 man break made it away today the best placed were at 5:10 down on GC.
Despite a bit off an effort from Youtube, Rabobank were content with no stage victory, so the break had 7:00 with 50 kilometres remaining. The break would fight out the win , but would Rabobank control the leaders jersey?
Grabowksi, the young Polish cobbler, takes a massive win for wildcard team Jardar. the gap back to the peloton is 4'41, Boassen Hagen will just retain his jersey. Today was a day where we should have gone into the break, seems the team need an education is becoming more aggressive early on.
On the final road stage the favourites were the same.
After a talking to about race tactics we got a man in the break it was the Uruguayan Franco Castro. The best placed in the nine man break were at 4:25 down. The chances of the break succeeding looked good with 40 kilometres to go with the gap over 5:00.
However, as Stannard and Hansen attacked out of the bunch with 28 kilometres to go the break's advantage was just over 2:00 as Rabobank would increase the pace. Rabobank were keen to push on the pace as amazingly Cavendish was dropped with 30 kilometres to go in a group of 34.
More attacks came out of the peloton, next to attack would be Montfort.
Then with under 12 kilometres to go, Fairly, Slik and our man Felline attack and joining up with the break.
The break have a descent advantage coming into the sprint, Castro is on the front trying to set up Felline....
Felline couldn't recover in time. The surprise winner came in the form of Stetina, the break just being caught by Boassen Hagen at the finish. A very productive stage for the team camera wise, if not getting onto the days podium.
Could Salomein dethrone Boassen Hagen on the final stage TT, realistically we couldn't get onto the podium, but a top 10 would be good.
The real stage contenders were unleashed towards the end of the stage. Phinney must have thought he would win when he clocked a time of 11'12, 27 seconds faster than Slik....
However, Salomein was still to come. Salomein was one second faster than Phinney at the first checkpoint and .... three seconds faster at the finish. Boassen Hagen...would finish fourth but was not in the same league as the other two.
Salomein wins the four days of de Panne with an impressive display, showing once again why he is dominating the continental rankings. Gallopin didn't have a great TT but holds on for a top 10 place, a real form booster ahead of his big target Paris Roubaix.
On the last day of March I received some huge news .... Qatar Optics will be riding the 2019 Giro! Our request was accepted, of course we expected the invite but to actually be confirmed as a team in the race is huge. This really is another monumental step for the team and Qatar.
Race:Estella - Estella 178 KM's
Spoiler
1
Jonathan Wagner
Spuerkeess - Sprite
5h06'33
2
Erick Rowsell
O2
s.t.
3
Pello Bilbao
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
4
Jonathan Tiernan-Locke
Ridley
s.t.
5
Ángel Madrazo
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
6
Daniel Silva
TEAM Barbot
s.t.
7
Sven Vandousselaere
Catalunya - ONCE
s.t.
8
Ion Izagirre
Qatar Optics
s.t.
9
Angelo Tulik
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
10
Dario Cataldo
TEAM Kalev - ArGo Airways
s.t.
11
Rob Ruijgh
Randstad
s.t.
12
Gianluca Brambilla
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
13
Luca Dodi
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
14
Illya Matoushkin
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
15
Alejandro de Cuevas
Caja Rural
s.t.
16
Filipe Gabriel Macedo
TEAM Barbot
s.t.
17
David Gutiérrez Palacios
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
18
Cornelius Van Ooijen
Randstad
s.t.
19
Garikoitz Bravo
Orbea Continental
s.t.
20
Ricardo Vilela
O2
s.t.
21
Nairo Quintana
O2
s.t.
22
John-Lee Augustyn
Onda
s.t.
23
João Pinto
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
24
José Joaquín Rojas
Qatar Optics
s.t.
25
Dirk Bellemakers
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
s.t.
26
Joost Van Leijen
Randstad
s.t.
27
Andrea Bernasconi
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
28
Juan Jorge Garabay
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
29
Borja Mora
Pearl
+ 1'15
30
Alessandro De Marchi
Bianchi - Venchi
+ 1'38
31
Morris Possoni
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
32
Adrián Sáez de Arregi
Caja Rural
s.t.
33
Simon Clarke
Qatar Optics
s.t.
34
Michele Gaia
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
35
Francisco Javier Moreno
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
36
Luca Pierfelici
Bianchi - Venchi
s.t.
37
Jérôme Coppel
Spuerkeess - Sprite
s.t.
38
Remco Te Brake
Randstad
s.t.
39
Gabriele Pizzaballa
TEAM Barbot
s.t.
40
Hugo Houle
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
41
Michael Torckler
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
42
Johan Le Bon
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
43
Perrig Quemeneur
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
44
Josué Moyano
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
45
Rafael Barrios
Cantabria Infinita
s.t.
46
Stijn Ennekens
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
s.t.
47
Jorge Carrasqueira
Onda
s.t.
48
Winner Anacona
Colombia es Pasión - Coldeportes
+ 2'46
49
Juan José Lobato
Cantabria Infinita
+ 3'25
50
Andrés Vigil
Orbea Continental
s.t.
51
Joeri Stallaert
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
s.t.
52
Aritz Bagües
Orbea Continental
s.t.
53
Andrei Kunitski
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
54
Mario Costa
Pearl
s.t.
55
Vegard Stake Laengen
Ridley
s.t.
56
Sebastien Pristl
Spuerkeess - Sprite
s.t.
57
Cristian Cominelli
Bianchi - Venchi
s.t.
58
Alessandro Colo
Bianchi - Venchi
s.t.
59
Guillherme Lourenço
TEAM Kalev - ArGo Airways
s.t.
60
Alberto Losada
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
61
João Pedro Soares
TEAM Kalev - ArGo Airways
s.t.
62
Davide Ricci Bitti
Bianchi - Venchi
s.t.
63
Sergio Mantecón
Colombia es Pasión - Coldeportes
s.t.
64
Pedro Merino
Cantabria Infinita
s.t.
65
Andrea Masciarelli
Bianchi - Venchi
s.t.
66
Mario Alcantar
Catalunya - ONCE
s.t.
67
Afonso Brito
TEAM Kalev - ArGo Airways
s.t.
68
Alexander Boyd
Spuerkeess - Sprite
s.t.
69
Istvan Cziraki
Qatar Optics
s.t.
70
Jurgen Francois
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
+ 4'58
71
Samuel Coelho
TEAM Barbot
s.t.
72
Peter Schulting
Randstad
s.t.
73
Roman Kireyev
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
74
Jose Mendes
TEAM Kalev - ArGo Airways
s.t.
75
David De la Cruz
Catalunya - ONCE
s.t.
76
Mário Goncalves
TEAM Barbot
s.t.
77
Ilmari Saarinen
Onda
s.t.
78
Bob Amboko
Ridley
s.t.
79
Tom Stamsnijder
Spyker Cars
s.t.
80
Cyrille Monnerais
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
81
Jesús Rosendo
Caja Rural
s.t.
82
Guillermo Iraola
Pearl
s.t.
83
Héctor González
Caja Rural
+ 6'01
84
Bolat Raimbekov
Astana Pro Team
+ 6'41
85
Igor Merino
Orbea Continental
s.t.
86
Bob Jungels
Spuerkeess - Sprite
s.t.
87
Alberto Morrás
Cantabria Infinita
+ 7'06
88
Thomas Rabou
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
s.t.
89
Jens Debusschere
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
s.t.
90
Justin Van Hoecke
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
s.t.
91
Omar Fraile
Pearl
s.t.
92
Ruslan Tleybaev
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
93
Jordi Simón
Cantabria Infinita
s.t.
94
Rafael Infantino
Colombia es Pasión - Coldeportes
s.t.
95
Serafín Martínez
Cantabria Infinita
s.t.
96
Ricardo Pinto
TEAM Kalev - ArGo Airways
s.t.
97
John Darwin Atapuma
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
98
Tom Relou
Randstad
s.t.
99
Marcelo Sacramento
Onda
s.t.
100
Juan Miguel Abelairas
Cantabria Infinita
s.t.
101
Kevin Torres Alonso
Catalunya - ONCE
s.t.
102
Alexander Max
Spuerkeess - Sprite
s.t.
103
Aitor Hernández
Orbea Continental
s.t.
104
Julian Arredondo
Colombia es Pasión - Coldeportes
s.t.
105
Joaquín Torres
Cantabria Infinita
s.t.
106
Oscar Gallardo
Onda
s.t.
107
Beñat Urain
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
108
Higinio Fernández
Catalunya - ONCE
s.t.
109
Serhiy Zadinskyi
Qatar Optics
s.t.
110
Xavier Romeu
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
111
Stefan Stamm
Qatar Optics
s.t.
112
Weimar Roldan
Colombia es Pasión - Coldeportes
+ 8'27
113
Huub Duyn
Randstad
s.t.
114
José Luis Roldán
Catalunya - ONCE
s.t.
115
Robert Partridge
O2
s.t.
116
Franz Schiewer
SRAM
s.t.
117
Amaro Antunes
Pearl
s.t.
118
Giorgio Anto
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
119
Adrian Torres
Catalunya - ONCE
+ 10'12
120
Gonzalo Mifflin
Colombia es Pasión - Coldeportes
s.t.
121
Nik Bosscher
Spyker Cars
s.t.
122
Armindo Fonseca
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
123
Magnus Bergseth
Ridley
s.t.
124
Thomas Bonin
Spuerkeess - Sprite
s.t.
125
Jonathon Mozley
O2
+ 10'43
126
Luis Ángel Abriol
Catalunya - ONCE
+ 11'47
127
Matthias Bertling
SRAM
+ 13'26
128
Bersvenn Støen
Ridley
s.t.
129
Tom Last
O2
s.t.
130
Rubén Arriaga
Orbea Continental
s.t.
131
Oscar Intxauspe
Orbea Continental
s.t.
132
Udo Schulz
SRAM
s.t.
133
David López
Orbea Continental
s.t.
134
Raymond Kreder
Randstad
s.t.
135
Nélson Monteiro
TEAM Barbot
s.t.
136
André Cardoso
Pearl
s.t.
137
José Gonçalves
Onda
s.t.
138
Rik van der Laan
Spyker Cars
s.t.
139
Alexandre Tavares
TEAM Kalev - ArGo Airways
s.t.
140
Tiago Silva
TEAM Barbot
s.t.
141
Samuel Caldeira
TEAM Kalev - ArGo Airways
+ 14'45
142
Abzal Negodyayev
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
143
Jean-Mitja Schlüter
SRAM
+ 18'10
144
Odin Helgesen
Ridley
s.t.
145
Joachim Tolles
SRAM
s.t.
146
Frederique Robert
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
s.t.
147
Sebastiaan Kamphuis
Spyker Cars
s.t.
148
Jurgen Van den Broeck
Qatar Optics
s.t.
149
Giampietro Mancini
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 19'21
150
Christian Kux
SRAM
+ 20'56
151
Haakon Pettersen
Ridley
s.t.
152
Daniele Colli
Bianchi - Venchi
s.t.
153
Joshua Edmonson
O2
s.t.
154
Raimondo Loi
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
155
Rolando Galvez
Pearl
+ 21'21
156
Kasper de Wit
Spyker Cars
+ 22'05
157
Paulo Barbosa
TEAM Barbot
+ 24'24
158
Alejandro Salgado Álvarez
Colombia es Pasión - Coldeportes
s.t.
159
Tom Hübner
Spuerkeess - Sprite
+ 24'52
160
Dale Appleby
O2
s.t.
161
Pedro Capdevila
Pearl
s.t.
162
Jonathan Hoekstra
Spyker Cars
s.t.
163
Max Michaelis
SRAM
s.t.
164
Daniel Plaza
Colombia es Pasión - Coldeportes
+ 25'28
165
Luuk van Zanten
Spyker Cars
s.t.
166
Giorgio Sette
Bianchi - Venchi
s.t.
167
Sven Claeys
Ridley
s.t.
168
Arnau Centurion
Caja Rural
s.t.
169
Michel Koch
SRAM
+ 30'20
170
Masood Al Mukhtar
Qatar Optics
+ 31'52
End of March:
CQ rankings for continental teams:
Ranking
Team
Points
3
Qatar Optics
1445
12
Kenda
1004
13
Accumalux
976
14
Accent Jobs
963
17
O2
799
It shouldn't be much of surprise to see us as the best placed continental team in the CQ rankings, so far the only real competition comes in the form of Kenda. It seems promotion will be more easily attainable this year, the same time last year both FDJ and Farnese Vini had over 1600 CQ points.
@ Sutty - Yeah, everyone is in great form now though!
@ Ian Butler - American dress doesn't = an American....always. Edited by The Rider on 13-08-2013 11:14
The two time winner of Paris Roubaix, Lander, has been made the favourite but there are 4/5 riders at least who could claim victory, our best shot is Gallopin, can he show well? Perhaps Felline may do well, but he hasn't been the same on the cobbles since his top 10 here 4 years ago.
Many riders tried to get into the early break, which is huge for sponsor exposure in a massive race such as Flanders. With about 80 kilometres in we have Bakelants in the 9 man break, the break have around 2:20 with 133 kilometres to go when....
domestiques from KLM and Arashiro (Exxon) really up the pace. The break is caught with 130 kilometres to go and at the head of the race only a 33 man group remains, the race already shattered. Phinney is the first big name to suffer, Felline is nowhere to be seen. Gazprom and Argos add their weight to the front of the race.
We have Neirynck, Castro, Gallopin and Bakelants in the front group, our big guns Neirynck and Gallopin really felling great.
As Neirynck is dropped with 75 kilometres to go a group of 17 big favourites are at the front, many of the big favourites take turns on the front.
From here on in it is a war of attrition. Duval and Trentin are dropped with 40 kilometres to go and we have 15 riders left in contention, Gallopin feeling great as the hills are negotiated.
Inside the last 20 kilometres. The tension is palpable as the big favourites watch each other, we are now down to 13 riders...when.... Ghyselinck attacks! He quickly gains '30 seconds then with 11 kilometres to go world champ Boasson Hagen joins him.
For a moment Boom and Maes and Lander and Puccio look each other, will the chase be taken up.......?
Yes it is, Boom drags everyone across to the two men. Then with under 5 kilometres to go Lander attacks.... everyone looks to Ghyselinck to take up the chase, he rides strongly while Lander is hanging out front. Then Puccio, Lander's teammate' attacks... we are into the sprint.
Boasson Hagen launches his sprint with Gallopin in the wheel, has he and our Frenchman left it too late.......?
Sadly yes. Lander wins the tour of Flanders! Gallopin gets outsprinted by Boasson Hagen who manages to pass Puccio for second, but still he manages the coveted top5 placing. What a race! Gallopin showed really well here, will he maintain his great form for his big target Paris Roubaix? Let us hope so, if so he has a great chance for victory.
RESULTS:
1
Sebastian Lander
Argos Oil - Wii
6h22'32
2
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
3
Salvatore Puccio
Argos Oil - Wii
s.t.
4
Tony Gallopin
Qatar Optics
s.t.
5
Lars Boom
ExxonMobil
s.t.
6
Nikolas Maes
ExxonMobil
s.t.
7
Matti Breschel
Gazprom
s.t.
8
Jan Ghyselinck
Katusha Team
s.t.
9
Zdenek Stybar
RIM
+ 57
10
Sep Vanmarcke
TEAM KLM - AB InBev
+ 1'36
Spoiler
11
Kevyn Ista
YouTube
+ 3'18
12
Coen Vermeltfoort
TEAM KLM - AB InBev
+ 4'26
13
Peter Sagan
Gazprom
s.t.
14
Matteo Trentin
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
+ 5'15
15
Guillaume Van Keirsbulck
RIM
s.t.
16
Aurélien Duval
FDJ - BigMat
+ 6'12
17
Ian Stannard
Gazprom
+ 8'07
18
Jonathan Bellis
Gazprom
s.t.
19
Greg Van Avermaet
TEAM Apple
s.t.
20
Marko Kump
ISS
s.t.
21
Damien Gaudin
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
22
Fabian Cancellara
Gazprom
s.t.
23
Pieter Vanspeybroeck
TEAM KLM - AB InBev
s.t.
24
Stijn Neirynck
Qatar Optics
s.t.
25
Taylor Phinney
American Express
+ 9'38
26
Matthieu Ladagnous
Bretagne - Schuller
s.t.
27
John Degenkolb
Argos Oil - Wii
s.t.
28
Kim Borry
YouTube
s.t.
29
Pieter Jacobs
TEAM KLM - AB InBev
s.t.
30
Giorgio Frau
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
s.t.
31
Ronan Van Zandbeek
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
32
Tim Declercq
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
+ 11'00
33
Yohan Offredo
Dyson - GDE
s.t.
34
Yukiya Arashiro
ExxonMobil
s.t.
35
Stijn Vandenbergh
YouTube
+ 12'29
36
Thomas Berkhout
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 13'58
37
Mark Cavendish
YouTube
s.t.
38
Jérôme Baugnies
TEAM KLM - AB InBev
+ 14'22
39
Sebastian Langeveld
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
s.t.
40
Tom Leezer
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
41
Omar Lombardi
TEAM Apple
s.t.
42
Maarten Neyens
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
s.t.
43
Andrea Guardini
YouTube
+ 15'29
44
Tom Veelers
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
45
Dylan Teuns
TEAM KLM - AB InBev
s.t.
46
Franco Castro
Qatar Optics
+ 16'13
47
Gerald Ciolek
American Express
+ 18'17
48
Mauro Finetto
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
s.t.
49
Philippe Gilbert
Qatar Optics
s.t.
50
Jesper Claeys
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
s.t.
51
Job Vissers
Argos Oil - Wii
s.t.
52
Nikola Aistrup
ISS
s.t.
53
Jean-Charles Sénac
Dyson - GDE
s.t.
54
Joeri Stallaert
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
+ 19'27
55
Iljo Keisse
TEAM KLM - AB InBev
+ 20'29
56
Andrew Tennant
Gazprom
s.t.
57
Jan Bakelants
Qatar Optics
s.t.
58
Tom Dumoulin
Argos Oil - Wii
s.t.
59
Adrien Petit
Dyson - GDE
+ 23'10
60
Steven Van Vooren
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
s.t.
61
Frederique Robert
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
s.t.
62
Stef Clement
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
+ 23'45
63
Mirko Selvaggi
John Deere - Electronic Arts
+ 24'01
64
Fabio Felline
Qatar Optics
s.t.
65
Danilo Wyss
TEAM Apple
+ 25'35
66
Arthur Vichot
TEAM KLM - AB InBev
s.t.
67
Gianni Meersman
YouTube
s.t.
68
Ramon Sinkeldam
Argos Oil - Wii
s.t.
69
Marcel Kittel
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 26'13
70
Stéphane Grenier
Dyson - GDE
s.t.
71
Michael Mørkøv
ISS
+ 27'01
72
Vincent Baestaens
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
+ 27'22
73
Thomas Vernaeckt
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
+ 27'44
74
Julio Lozano
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 28'07
75
Ben Hermans
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
76
Jempy Drucker
ExxonMobil
+ 29'17
77
Francis De Greef
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
s.t.
78
Thomas Rabou
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
+ 29'50
79
Chan Siu Long
Qatar Optics
s.t.
80
Maarten Wynants
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
81
Michael Van Staeyen
RIM
s.t.
82
Albert Timmer
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
s.t.
83
Juan Valerón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 31'44
84
Juan Martín Bermudez
Volvo
s.t.
85
Kristjan Koren
John Deere - Electronic Arts
+ 32'10
86
Sibrecht Pieters
YouTube
s.t.
87
Giacomo Nizzolo
John Deere - Electronic Arts
s.t.
RACE:Vitre - Vitre 197 KM's
Spoiler
1
Nicolas Edet
Bretagne - Schuller
5h04'20
2
Stijn Ennekens
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
s.t.
3
Maxime Bouet
Bretagne - Schuller
s.t.
4
Guillaume Malle
Dyson - GDE
s.t.
5
Romain Feillu
Qatar Optics
s.t.
6
Cyril Bessy
Alstom
s.t.
7
Alessandro De Marchi
Bianchi - Venchi
s.t.
8
Yann Huguet
Dyson - GDE
s.t.
9
Illya Matoushkin
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
10
Angelo Tulik
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
11
Kristof Vandewalle
YouTube
s.t.
12
Steve Houanard
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
13
Nairo Quintana
O2
s.t.
14
Lars Petter Nordhaug
Walmart
s.t.
15
Marc Maire
HIG
s.t.
16
Tom Van Asbroeck
TEAM Dexia - Telenor
s.t.
17
Luca Dodi
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
18
Perrig Quemeneur
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
19
Sergej Fuchs
Spuerkeess - Sprite
s.t.
20
Gianluca Brambilla
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
21
Juan José Lobato
Cantabria Infinita
s.t.
22
Yannick Marié
Armavia - Provamel
s.t.
23
Robert Partridge
O2
s.t.
24
Rémy Monier
Dyson - GDE
+ 32
25
Florian Le Corre
Armavia - Provamel
+ 46
26
Ignacio Fernandez
Caja Rural
+ 1'13
27
Julien Fouchard
Kenda
s.t.
28
Logan Chaix
Alstom
s.t.
29
Ricardo Vilela
O2
s.t.
30
Erick Rowsell
O2
s.t.
31
Cornelius Van Ooijen
Randstad
s.t.
32
Yannick Albertini
Kenda
s.t.
33
Joost Van Leijen
Randstad
s.t.
34
Huub Duyn
Randstad
s.t.
35
Guillaume Blot
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
36
Johan Le Bon
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
37
Jonathan Wagner
Spuerkeess - Sprite
s.t.
38
Tom Relou
Randstad
s.t.
39
Raymond Kreder
Randstad
s.t.
40
Sebastien Pristl
Spuerkeess - Sprite
s.t.
41
Cédric Pineau
Bretagne - Schuller
s.t.
42
Peter Schulting
Randstad
s.t.
43
Rob Ruijgh
Randstad
s.t.
44
Bob Jungels
Spuerkeess - Sprite
s.t.
45
Wilfried Bruylant
YouTube
s.t.
46
Guillaume Levarlet
Kenda
s.t.
47
Julien Loubet
Bretagne - Schuller
s.t.
48
Alan Vergnaud
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
49
Jules Lemarchand
Eurosport
s.t.
50
Mikaël Chérel
HIG
s.t.
51
Marc Gaudin
Armavia - Provamel
s.t.
52
Gianluigi D'Elia
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
53
Jens Debusschere
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
s.t.
54
Tom Stamsnijder
Spyker Cars
s.t.
55
Pierre Cazaux
Alstom
s.t.
56
Wouter Sybrandy
O2
s.t.
57
Laurent Pichon
Alstom
s.t.
58
Ian Bibby
O2
s.t.
59
Jesús Rosendo
Caja Rural
s.t.
60
Beñat Txoperena
Caja Rural
s.t.
61
Stéphane Poulhiès
Dyson - GDE
s.t.
62
Rafael Barrios
Cantabria Infinita
s.t.
63
Jérémie Galland
Dyson - GDE
s.t.
64
João Pinto
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
65
Jurgen Francois
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
s.t.
66
Joseph Dombrowski
Walmart
s.t.
67
Nacer Bouhanni
Bretagne - Schuller
s.t.
68
Davide Ricci Bitti
Bianchi - Venchi
s.t.
69
Manuele Boaro
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
70
Stephane Guiraud
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
71
Paul Brousse
Dyson - GDE
s.t.
72
John Darwin Atapuma
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
73
Lode Van Impe
TEAM Dexia - Telenor
s.t.
74
Morris Possoni
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
75
Enzo Jeannin
HIG
s.t.
76
Nicolas Roche
Qatar Optics
s.t.
77
Daniel Fleeman
Walmart
s.t.
78
Timofey Kritskiy
Qatar Optics
s.t.
79
Ahmed Al Ghanim
Qatar Optics
s.t.
80
Nicolas Hartmann
Eurosport
s.t.
81
Armindo Fonseca
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
82
Mathias Marais
Bretagne - Schuller
s.t.
83
Rémi Pauriol
Alstom
s.t.
84
Salvador Guardiola
Caja Rural
s.t.
85
Julien Guay
HIG
s.t.
86
Johan Mombaerts
Eurosport
s.t.
87
Brice Feillu
Qatar Optics
s.t.
88
Matthieu Boulo
Bretagne - Schuller
s.t.
89
Cristian Cominelli
Bianchi - Venchi
+ 2'41
90
Jonathan Dufrasne
TEAM Dexia - Telenor
s.t.
91
Alessandro Colo
Bianchi - Venchi
s.t.
92
Alexander Boyd
Spuerkeess - Sprite
s.t.
93
Justin Van Hoecke
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
+ 3'04
94
Dieter Cappelle
TEAM Dexia - Telenor
+ 3'15
95
Rudy Molard
Alstom
s.t.
96
Thomas Damuseau
Alstom
s.t.
97
Thomas Bonin
Spuerkeess - Sprite
s.t.
98
Grégory Joseph
YouTube
s.t.
99
Florian Hoffmann
Qatar Optics
s.t.
100
Yeray Garcia
Caja Rural
s.t.
101
Julien Bérard
HIG
+ 3'57
102
Joaquín Torres
Cantabria Infinita
s.t.
103
Stéphen Collet
YouTube
s.t.
104
Pierre De Ryck
TEAM Dexia - Telenor
s.t.
105
Yoann Barbas
Eurosport
s.t.
106
Jarosław Marycz
TEAM Dexia - Telenor
s.t.
107
Alexander Max
Spuerkeess - Sprite
s.t.
108
Valentin De Ridder
YouTube
+ 5'36
109
Axel Sylvestre
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
110
Arnaud Molmy
Armavia - Provamel
s.t.
111
Robin Stenuit
TEAM Dexia - Telenor
s.t.
112
Julien Theron
Alstom
s.t.
113
Juan Miguel Abelairas
Cantabria Infinita
s.t.
114
Ed Clancy
Walmart
+ 6'03
115
David Williams
Walmart
s.t.
116
Edwig Cammaerts
TEAM Dexia - Telenor
s.t.
117
Nicolas Boisson
Kenda
s.t.
118
Andrea Masciarelli
Bianchi - Venchi
s.t.
119
Blaise Sonnery
Kenda
s.t.
120
Florent Pruvot
HIG
s.t.
121
Alessandro Mazzi
Bianchi - Venchi
s.t.
122
Giorgio Anto
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 6'44
123
Florian Guillou
Bretagne - Schuller
s.t.
124
Logan Joyeux
FDJ - BigMat
+ 7'36
125
Daniele Colli
Bianchi - Venchi
s.t.
126
Jonathan Hoekstra
Spyker Cars
+ 8'46
127
Davide Bonuccelli
Bianchi - Venchi
s.t.
128
Fabien Bacquet
Dyson - GDE
s.t.
129
Stijn Steels
YouTube
s.t.
130
Jonathon Mozley
O2
s.t.
131
Victor Monnier
Kenda
s.t.
132
Vincent Coudray
Eurosport
s.t.
133
Gaetan Bille
YouTube
s.t.
134
Romain Villa
Armavia - Provamel
s.t.
135
Alex Dowsett
O2
s.t.
136
Craig Dunn
Walmart
s.t.
137
Luca Ascani
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 9'35
138
Romain Matheou
FDJ - BigMat
+ 12'15
139
Jocelyn Bar
Armavia - Provamel
s.t.
140
Miguel Mínguez
Cantabria Infinita
s.t.
141
Jordi Simón
Cantabria Infinita
s.t.
142
Alex Bowden
Walmart
s.t.
143
Tom Cardon
Armavia - Provamel
s.t.
144
Sebastiaan Kamphuis
Spyker Cars
s.t.
145
Dirk Bellemakers
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
s.t.
146
Alan Wagner
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
147
Alexandre Lemair
Eurosport
+ 12'47
148
Jesús Infante
Cantabria Infinita
+ 13'04
149
Bohdan Shevchenko
Qatar Optics
s.t.
150
Frédéric Tixier
Spuerkeess - Sprite
s.t.
151
Raffaele Petrone
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
152
Christophe Laborie
Kenda
+ 13'57
153
Michel Poncet
Dyson - GDE
s.t.
154
George Morrison
Randstad
+ 14'50
155
Kyle Stephens
YouTube
s.t.
156
Roger Bruyere
Qatar Optics
s.t.
157
Valérien Borde
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
158
Arnau Contador
Cantabria Infinita
+ 15'42
159
Nik Bosscher
Spyker Cars
+ 16'27
160
Héctor González
Caja Rural
s.t.
161
Brad Adamson
Walmart
+ 16'52
162
Kasper de Wit
Spyker Cars
s.t.
163
Olivier Martin
Kenda
s.t.
164
Luuk van Zanten
Spyker Cars
+ 17'41
165
Florent Barle
Armavia - Provamel
+ 21'13
@ Jackstar - Thanks It's going to be epic for the team to be in its first GT.
Overall the same riders are here as were present at Flanders, the racing is surely to be competitive, can Lander win three Paris Roubaix on the bounce?
Early on the race provided the opportunity for the smaller teams such as Milka to get into the break. A large break looked to be establishing with 170 kilometres to go, but as the first cobbled section was reached Drucker(Exxon) set a furious pace and the peloton was at the head of the race.
With 160 kilometres to go we animate the race with Castro, who is having a brilliant start to his classics career. He, Van Zandbeek and Van Avermaet attack and quickly gain 1:00.
But with 150 kilometres to go, the rain starts, on the umpteenth section of cobbles, Offredo (Dyson) ups the pace and a 14 man group join up with the three men. Crucially there is no Boom, Puccio, Lander or Ghyselinck.
However, with 120 kilometres to go all the favourites are together in a 30 man group exactly, except for Neirynck and Ghyselink who showed so well at Flanders.
With 105 kilometres to go Castro punctures, but courageously hands over a water bottle to Gallopin before falling back. The big favourites weren't afraid to ride on the front from way out, Puccio was riding on the front with exactly 100 kilometres to go.
With 83 kilometres to go the peloton, now 24 riders passes through the mythical forest of Arenburg being lead by Berkhout.
Gradually more and more riders would lose contact, Stannard, Cancellara then Duval all lose contact.
With 18 kilometres to go, nine riders remain when world champ Boasson Hagen attacks. Gallopin ..... has nothing left to respond to this attack.
With under 10 kilometres to go, Flanders winner Lander attacks, Boom is straight on the wheel as is Maes and the world champ.
Only a handful of kilometres remain, we come into the Roubaix stadium when..... Lander attacks....... but Maes counters and.......
will power along and maintain a gap for the win, the biggest in his career in front of a sell out velodrome. Maes wins Paris Roubaix! Gallopin finishes an exceptional classics campaign with another top 10. The race was really 'hell of the north' not even 50 riders managed to finish, real hell.
RESULTS:
1
Nikolas Maes
ExxonMobil
6h36'45
2
Sebastian Lander
Argos Oil - Wii
+ 17
3
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 37
4
Lars Boom
ExxonMobil
s.t.
5
Salvatore Puccio
Argos Oil - Wii
+ 48
6
Sep Vanmarcke
TEAM KLM - AB InBev
+ 1'24
7
Matti Breschel
Gazprom
s.t.
8
Tony Gallopin
Qatar Optics
+ 3'43
9
John Degenkolb
Argos Oil - Wii
+ 4'19
10
Kim Borry
YouTube
+ 4'45
Spoiler
11
Damien Gaudin
FDJ - BigMat
+ 4'55
12
Thomas Berkhout
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 9'57
13
Aurélien Duval
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
14
Coen Vermeltfoort
TEAM KLM - AB InBev
+ 10'06
15
Yukiya Arashiro
ExxonMobil
s.t.
16
Taylor Phinney
American Express
+ 10'19
17
Fabian Cancellara
Gazprom
s.t.
18
Matthieu Ladagnous
Bretagne - Schuller
s.t.
19
Ronan Van Zandbeek
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
20
Greg Van Avermaet
TEAM Apple
+ 10'32
21
Vincent Pernet
FDJ - BigMat
+ 11'13
22
Yohan Offredo
Dyson - GDE
+ 12'00
23
Marko Kump
ISS
s.t.
24
Jan Ghyselinck
Katusha Team
s.t.
25
Matteo Trentin
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
+ 12'48
26
Ian Stannard
Gazprom
+ 14'20
27
Stijn Vandenbergh
YouTube
s.t.
28
Michael Mørkøv
ISS
+ 14'34
29
Kevyn Ista
YouTube
+ 15'03
30
Jonathan Bellis
Gazprom
+ 16'19
31
Giorgio Frau
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
+ 16'42
32
Guillaume Van Keirsbulck
RIM
+ 22'12
33
Franco Castro
Qatar Optics
+ 23'45
34
Zdenek Stybar
RIM
+ 24'25
35
Mark Cavendish
YouTube
+ 24'33
36
Pieter Vanspeybroeck
TEAM KLM - AB InBev
+ 24'56
37
Pieter Jacobs
TEAM KLM - AB InBev
s.t.
38
Stijn Neirynck
Qatar Optics
+ 25'06
39
Baptiste Planckaert
Auber 93 - BigMat
+ 25'27
40
Jean-Charles Sénac
Dyson - GDE
+ 26'54
41
Steven Lampier
Gazprom
+ 28'18
42
Julio Lozano
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 30'07
43
Andrea Guardini
YouTube
+ 31'36
@ Sutty - It really is an impressive result, massive.
Qatar Optics wins in Koln! Thanks to a really impressive one man gang job from Yildiz, for his fourth win of the season. Arni tells me he was the only man in the lead 100 man group from our team with 20 kilometres to go, but using his race brain was able to get into a great position and sprint for the win. Real Impressive stuff.
Race: Koln - Koln 199 KM's
1
Samet Yildiz
Qatar Optics
5h13'44
2
Michael Mørkøv
ISS
s.t.
3
Troels Ronning Vinther
Energi Fyn - TDC
s.t.
4
Olivier Pardini
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
s.t.
5
Michał Kwiatkowski
Jardar - Savings & Loans
s.t.
6
Raymond Kreder
Randstad
s.t.
7
Roger Kluge
LKT - T-Mobile
s.t.
8
Udo Heinze
TEAM Trilux - Jack Wolfskin
s.t.
9
Ivar Slik
Randstad
s.t.
10
Christian Moberg Jørgensen
Ekspla
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Paul Voss
Rothaus
s.t.
12
Henryk Grabowski
Jardar - Savings & Loans
s.t.
13
Rick Ottema
Randstad
s.t.
14
Tadeusz Pawlowski
Jardar - Savings & Loans
s.t.
15
Florian Monreal
TEAM Trilux - Jack Wolfskin
s.t.
16
Niki Østergaard
Bungie - LRØ Rådgiving
s.t.
17
Jay Booth
Gazprom
s.t.
18
Steven Lampier
Gazprom
s.t.
19
Kevin Seeldraeyers
ISS
s.t.
20
Paweł Wachnik
AVAST Software
s.t.
21
Rasmus Sterebo
ISS
s.t.
22
Lars Telschow
TEAM Trilux - Jack Wolfskin
s.t.
23
André Steensen
ISS
s.t.
24
Kamil Zielinski
AVAST Software
s.t.
25
Niki Terpstra
Thüringer Energie Team
s.t.
26
Nikolay Zhurkin
ISS
s.t.
27
Vincent Baestaens
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
s.t.
28
Thomas Riber-Sellebjerg
TEAM Nespresso
s.t.
29
Kenneth Hansen
ISS
s.t.
30
Matthias Plarre
TEAM Trilux - Jack Wolfskin
s.t.
31
Krzysztof Witkowski
Jardar - Savings & Loans
s.t.
32
Xavier Albrecht
TEAM Nespresso
s.t.
33
Alex Rasmussen
Ekspla
s.t.
34
Christopher Roth
Thüringer Energie Team
s.t.
35
José Herrada
LKT - T-Mobile
s.t.
36
Jaroslaw Dabrowski
Jardar - Savings & Loans
s.t.
37
Marcel Fischer
Rothaus
s.t.
38
Francis De Greef
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
s.t.
39
Marc De Maar
LKT - T-Mobile
s.t.
40
Mads Christensen
Qantas Airways - DONG Energy
s.t.
41
Julián Muñoz
Energi Fyn - TDC
s.t.
42
Pieter Serry
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
s.t.
43
Thomas Löfkvist
Gazprom
s.t.
44
Andrew Tennant
Gazprom
s.t.
45
Liam Holohan
Gazprom
s.t.
46
Matt Cronshaw
Gazprom
s.t.
47
Jan Burmeister
LKT - T-Mobile
s.t.
48
Artur Ershov
ISS
s.t.
49
Robert Wagner
TEAM Trilux - Jack Wolfskin
s.t.
50
Jesper Mørkøv
Energi Fyn - TDC
s.t.
51
Simon Pellaud
TEAM Nespresso
s.t.
52
Oliver Skov
ISS
s.t.
53
Remco Te Brake
Randstad
s.t.
54
Jean-Mitja Schlüter
SRAM
s.t.
55
Ole Haavardsholm
Joker Merida
s.t.
56
Eduardo Gonzalo
Ekspla
s.t.
57
Peter Schulting
Randstad
s.t.
58
Morten Øllegaard
Energi Fyn - TDC
s.t.
59
Stijn Minne
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
s.t.
60
Rui Costa
AVAST Software
s.t.
61
Dennis Pohl
LKT - T-Mobile
s.t.
62
Riccardo Zoidl
Team Vorarlberg
s.t.
63
Christopher Böttger
TEAM Trilux - Jack Wolfskin
s.t.
64
Patrick Gretsch
Thüringer Energie Team
s.t.
65
Tanel Kangert
Joker Merida
s.t.
66
Daniel Shand
Gazprom
s.t.
67
Gasper Svab
Sporza
s.t.
68
Frans-Leonard Markaskard
Joker Merida
s.t.
69
Sebastian Forke
SRAM
s.t.
70
Marco Haller
Team Vorarlberg
s.t.
71
Blaz Furdi
Sporza
s.t.
72
Adam Zaborowski
Jardar - Savings & Loans
s.t.
73
Ronnie Mikkelsen
Energi Fyn - TDC
s.t.
74
Mathias Gade Jacobsen
Bungie - LRØ Rådgiving
s.t.
75
Matthias Lisson
Energi Fyn - TDC
s.t.
76
Michael Kurth
Thüringer Energie Team
s.t.
77
Grischa Janorschke
TEAM Trilux - Jack Wolfskin
s.t.
78
Søren Nissen
Bungie - LRØ Rådgiving
s.t.
79
Marcel Meisen
Thüringer Energie Team
s.t.
80
Huub Duyn
Randstad
s.t.
81
Christoffer Kvam
Ridley
s.t.
82
Byron Guama
Ekspla
s.t.
83
Haakon Pettersen
Ridley
s.t.
84
Michael Valgren Andersen
Qantas Airways - DONG Energy
s.t.
85
Michael Hümbert
Focus - Allianz
s.t.
86
Patrick Schachtner
Focus - Allianz
s.t.
87
Rasmus Quaade
Ekspla
s.t.
88
Matej Mugerli
Sporza
s.t.
89
Franz Schiewer
SRAM
s.t.
90
Jakob Bering
Bungie - LRØ Rådgiving
s.t.
91
Lubomir Petrus
AVAST Software
s.t.
92
Marko Fuchs
Team Vorarlberg
s.t.
93
Alexander Trimmel
Team Vorarlberg
s.t.
94
Morten Kruse Brink
Energi Fyn - TDC
s.t.
95
Matthias Friedemann
Thüringer Energie Team
s.t.
96
Georg Gall
Thüringer Energie Team
s.t.
97
Frantisek Padour
AVAST Software
s.t.
98
Matty Davidson
Gazprom
s.t.
99
Thomas Fothen
Thüringer Energie Team
s.t.
100
Tobias L. Schultz
Focus - Allianz
s.t.
101
Daniel Kreutzfeldt
Energi Fyn - TDC
+ 2'23
102
Vegard Bugge
Joker Merida
s.t.
103
Lucas Krog
Bungie - LRØ Rådgiving
s.t.
104
Florian Hirsch
Focus - Allianz
s.t.
105
Matthias Krizek
Team Vorarlberg
s.t.
106
Pawel Jankowski
Jardar - Savings & Loans
s.t.
107
Robert Brezina
AVAST Software
+ 3'13
108
Blaz Zun
Sporza
+ 3'47
109
Czeslaw Lewandowski
Jardar - Savings & Loans
+ 4'50
110
Marcel Adler
Focus - Allianz
s.t.
111
Istvan Cziraki
Qatar Optics
s.t.
112
Stefan Stamm
Qatar Optics
s.t.
113
Bohdan Shevchenko
Qatar Optics
s.t.
114
Serhiy Zadinskyi
Qatar Optics
s.t.
115
Johan Ziesler
Ridley
s.t.
116
Philip Nielsen
Qantas Airways - DONG Energy
s.t.
117
Christopher Duperrut
TEAM Nespresso
s.t.
118
Jonathan Fumeaux
TEAM Nespresso
s.t.
119
Tobias Lundgaard
Bungie - LRØ Rådgiving
s.t.
120
Gintaras Butkus
Ekspla
s.t.
121
Marko Fuchs
Team Vorarlberg
s.t.
122
Alexander Gottfried
Rothaus
s.t.
123
Daniel Schorn
Joker Merida
s.t.
124
Andreas Frisch
Qantas Airways - DONG Energy
s.t.
125
Dylan Van Baarle
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
s.t.
126
Márcio Barbosa
Sporza
s.t.
127
Jonathan Tiernan-Locke
Ridley
s.t.
128
Peter Machona
Ridley
s.t.
129
Sven Erik Bystrøm
Ridley
s.t.
130
Michel Koch
SRAM
s.t.
131
Steven Van Vooren
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
s.t.
132
Davide Cimolai
Rothaus
s.t.
133
Michael Hepburn
Joker Merida
s.t.
134
Matthias Brändle
Team Vorarlberg
s.t.
135
Martin Mortensen
Qantas Airways - DONG Energy
s.t.
136
Jasha Sütterlin
Rothaus
s.t.
137
Joachim Tolles
SRAM
s.t.
138
David De la Fuente
AVAST Software
s.t.
139
Daniel Musiol
LKT - T-Mobile
s.t.
140
Kristian Forbord
Joker Merida
s.t.
141
Aleksandar Rozman
Sporza
s.t.
142
Aaron van Wijk
Randstad
s.t.
143
Mikkel Lund
Qantas Airways - DONG Energy
s.t.
144
Vegard Stake Laengen
Ridley
s.t.
145
Dominik Roels
SRAM
s.t.
146
Primoz Segina
Sporza
s.t.
147
Jakub Kratochvila
AVAST Software
s.t.
148
Erik Mohs
SRAM
s.t.
149
Martin Lind
Qantas Airways - DONG Energy
s.t.
150
Martin Kohler
TEAM Nespresso
s.t.
151
Kenny De Ketele
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
s.t.
152
Matias Greve
Ekspla
s.t.
153
Mark Sehested
Ekspla
s.t.
154
Logan Hunn
Ridley
s.t.
155
Benjamin Sydlik
Rothaus
s.t.
156
Simon Nuber
Focus - Allianz
s.t.
157
Artur Gajek
Rothaus
s.t.
158
Martin Lollesgaard
Bungie - LRØ Rådgiving
s.t.
159
Mads Rydicher
Bungie - LRØ Rådgiving
s.t.
160
Sondre Sörtveit
Joker Merida
s.t.
161
Florian Hoffmann
Qatar Optics
s.t.
162
Stephen Adams
Sporza
s.t.
163
Roman Strobl
Team Vorarlberg
s.t.
164
Simon Geschke
TEAM Trilux - Jack Wolfskin
+ 7'01
165
Tobias Schweiger
Rothaus
s.t.
166
Imtiyaz Sulimani
Qatar Optics
+ 8'30
167
Bernie Cameron
Qantas Airways - DONG Energy
s.t.
168
Richard Bode
SRAM
+ 9'03
169
George Morrison
Randstad
+ 9'31
170
Ali Sanad Al Muwalid
Qatar Optics
+ 15'42
@ Daggen - Well I'm sure glad we've found your brother, now we just have to catch him!
@ Ian Butler- Yep, Flanders was his big chance looking back though.
@ Sutty -Thanks, there were a lot of 'abominations' at Roubaix. GIMP 2 FTW!
