@SS2JLuigi: Always and Preidler deserved that victory
@Selwink: Preidler was amazing when he left the group, no one managed to counter his acceleration
@Ian Butler: That's a great achievement indeed especially as it was not really a goal at the beggining of the race.
GP Nobili Rubinetterie - Coppa Papà Carlo
That was only a way to prepare ourselves for the roads of Milano - Sanremo. The victory of John was not a surprise as he was on paper the only won who could win that race. My 9th position is also great and I hope I will keep that shape for the following races.
Race Ranking:
1
John Degenkolb
Team Giant - Allianz
3h50'36
2
Simone Ponzi
Vini Fantini - Bettini
s.t.
3
Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
4
Anthony Giacoppo
Drapac Cycling
s.t.
5
Omar Bertazzo
Ceramica Flaminia - Fondriest
s.t.
6
Jeff Vermeulen
CyclingTeam Philips
s.t.
7
Louis Verhelst
Cofidis Solutions Crédits
s.t.
8
Aljaž Hočevar
Adria Mobil
s.t.
9
Anthony Louveille
Team Giant - Allianz
s.t.
10
Rüdiger Selig
Katusha Team
s.t.
Milano - Sanremo
The Squad:
John DEGENKOLB Dries DEVENYNS Tom DUMOULIN Simon GESCHKE Marcel KITTEL Johan LE BON Anthony LOUVEILLE Dominic NERZ
Pre-Race:
Today it will be all for John, he is our best hope for the victory and with his sprint skills he might well be the successor of Marcel Kittel (He won last year edition).
I will focus especially on the two last climb, the Poggio and the Cipressa where I will try to help John as much as I can do.
Race Report:
The race started with 3 men leaving the pack. The pack let them go without any problems and the three were off for a very very long day of pain. The weather was not that clement and it was not the best we could hope for. The maximum gap the breakaway had was up to 12"42.
At the front of the pack, three teams were setting the pace : Pepsi Pro Cycling for Peter Sagan ( PEP), Telenet Pro Cycling Team for Mark Cavendish ( TEL) and Katusha Team for Alexander Kristoff ( KAT).
Right before the start of La Manie I had a puncture, and why in hell shall BMC accelerate at that moment? I got caught in a break and I had with me Johan Le Bon who did not had a great day. He fought to bring the group back but it was a very hard job to do alone.
Luckily for us, with 46 kilometers to go, when the breakaway were back in the main group they simply stop riding, this allow our group to come back in the main group but we spent a lot of energy in the chase. I tried to go back at the front to help John but with the wind this was not an easy task.
The attack of Taylor Phinney ( BMC) and Sep Vanmarcke ( BEL) did not help at all, they forced the pack to ride again and I was now in the middle of the pack waiting for a better moment to come at the front.
Another attack by another BMC rider, Greg Van Avermaet ( BMC) gave all he had in that attack, some tried to follow him like Sep Vanmarcke ( BEL) or Niki Terpstra ( TEL) but they all failed.
26.6 kilometers to go, Greg Van Avermaet ( BMC) is starting to climb the Cipressa with a lead of 55", he can do it. Behind it was a real mess, every leader was trying to see if he had a team mate left with him and this was a bit of panicking for some.
With 16 kilometers to go, Greg Van Avermaet ( BMC) had a lead of 40", we were coming closer but he was really fighting for that. I said we as I managed to get back at the front before the Cipressa, in the climb I had good sensation and I thought perhaps I could try something in the Poggio. We were three of Giant Allianz in the group there was John, Simon and I.
10 kilometers to go, a group of three riders is now between Greg Van Avermaet ( BMC) and the main group. Sylvain Chavanel ( IAM), Filippo Pozzato ( LAM) and Lars Boom ( BEL) were chasing the lead man and they were easily gaining ground on the pack.
I tried to follow them but apparently I was mistaken about my feelings, I did not even managed to get of my saddle.
Greg Van Avermaet ( BMC) resisted well to the three riders behind and he took one of his greatest victory so far. I must say that he deserves it as he really was the strongest today.
The podium was completed by Filippo Pozzato ( LAM) and Lars Boom ( BEL) and John took the 9th position.
And me for my first participation here I ended in the main group at the 16th position which is a satisfaction.
Race Ranking
Greg Van Avermaet | BMC Racing Team Filippo Pozzato | Lampre - Colombia Lars Boom | Belkin Pro Cycling
1
Greg Van Avermaet
BMC Racing Team
7h12'46
2
Filippo Pozzato
Lampre - Colombia
+ 1'01
3
Lars Boom
Belkin Pro Cycling
s.t.
4
Sylvain Chavanel
IAM Cycling
s.t.
5
Peter Sagan
Pepsi Pro Cycling
+ 2'13
6
Philippe Gilbert
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
7
Johnny Hoogerland
CyclingTeam Philips
s.t.
8
Arthur Vichot
Équipe Cycliste FDJ.fr
s.t.
9
John Degenkolb
Team Giant - Allianz
s.t.
10
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Heinrich Haussler
IAM Cycling
s.t.
12
Moreno Moser
Pepsi Pro Cycling
s.t.
13
Sep Vanmarcke
Belkin Pro Cycling
s.t.
14
Marco Marcato
Pepsi Pro Cycling
s.t.
15
Matthieu Ladagnous
Équipe Cycliste FDJ.fr
s.t.
16
Anthony Louveille
Team Giant - Allianz
s.t.
17
Oscar Gatto
Pepsi Pro Cycling
s.t.
18
Mikhail Ignatiev
Katusha Team
s.t.
19
Niki Terpstra
Telenet Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
20
Daniel Moreno Fernandez
Katusha Team
s.t.
21
Simon Geschke
Team Giant - Allianz
s.t.
22
Mark Cavendish
Telenet Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
23
Taylor Phinney
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
24
Bob Jungels
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
25
Geraint Thomas
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
26
Rigoberto Uran Uran
Telenet Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
27
Giacomo Nizzolo
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
28
Bauke Mollema
Belkin Pro Cycling
s.t.
29
Luca Wackermann
Lampre - Colombia
s.t.
30
Tom Boonen
Telenet Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
31
Zdenek Stybar
Telenet Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
32
Enrico Barbin
Pepsi Pro Cycling
s.t.
33
Gianni Meersman
Telenet Pro Cycling Team
+ 3'42
34
Tyler Farrar
Garmin-Sharp
s.t.
35
Marcel Kittel
Team Giant - Allianz
s.t.
36
Ian Stannard
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
37
Dries Devenyns
Team Giant - Allianz
s.t.
38
Johan Vansummeren
Garmin-Sharp
s.t.
39
Yury Trofimov
Katusha Team
s.t.
40
Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg
MTN - Qhubeka
+ 4'31
41
Simone Ponzi
Vini Fantini - Bettini
s.t.
42
Sonny Colbrelli
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
s.t.
43
Diego Ulissi
Lampre - Colombia
s.t.
44
Michael Albasini
Orica - GreenEDGE
s.t.
45
Nicolas Roche
Tinkoff Credits System
s.t.
46
Thomas Löfkvist
IAM Cycling
s.t.
47
Daniel Martin
Garmin-Sharp
s.t.
48
Alejandro Valverde Belmonte
Movistar Team
s.t.
49
Rui Alberto Faria Costa
Lampre - Colombia
s.t.
50
Louis Meintjes
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
51
Domenico Pozzovivo
Ag2r - La Mondiale
s.t.
52
Daniele Bennati
Tinkoff Credits System
s.t.
53
Matti Breschel
Tinkoff Credits System
s.t.
54
Enrico Gasparotto
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
55
Francis Mourey
Équipe Cycliste FDJ.fr
s.t.
56
Alexei Tsatevich
Katusha Team
s.t.
57
Yoann Offredo
Équipe Cycliste FDJ.fr
s.t.
58
Stefan Denifl
IAM Cycling
s.t.
59
Roman Kreuziger
Tinkoff Credits System
s.t.
60
Thomas Degand
Accent.Jobs - Wanty
s.t.
61
Jelle Vanendert
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
62
Lasse Norman Hansen
Garmin-Sharp
s.t.
63
Grega Bole
RusVelo
s.t.
64
Gorka Izagirre Insausti
Movistar Team
s.t.
65
Romain Bardet
Ag2r - La Mondiale
s.t.
66
Fabio Felline
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
67
Marcus Burghardt
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
68
Arnaud Démare
Équipe Cycliste FDJ.fr
s.t.
69
Ben Swift
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
70
Johan Le Bon
Team Giant - Allianz
s.t.
71
André Greipel
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
72
Tejay Van Garderen
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
73
Daniel Oss
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
74
Ricardo Van Der Velde
CyclingTeam Philips
s.t.
75
Jonathan Tiernan-Locke
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
76
Alexander Kristoff
Katusha Team
s.t.
77
Damiano Caruso
Pepsi Pro Cycling
s.t.
78
Gustav Erik Larsson
IAM Cycling
s.t.
79
Mattia Cattaneo
Lampre - Colombia
s.t.
80
John Darwin Atapuma Hurtado
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
81
Dennis Van Winden
Belkin Pro Cycling
s.t.
82
Tom Dumoulin
Team Giant - Allianz
s.t.
83
Sergei Chernetskiy
Katusha Team
s.t.
84
Giampaolo Caruso
Katusha Team
s.t.
85
Kanstantsin Siutsou
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
86
Emilien Viennet
Équipe Cycliste FDJ.fr
s.t.
87
Sergio Luis Henao Montoya
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
88
Steven Kruijswijk
Belkin Pro Cycling
+ 7'16
89
Theo Bos
Belkin Pro Cycling
s.t.
90
Elia Viviani
Pepsi Pro Cycling
s.t.
91
Robin Chaigneau
Belkin Pro Cycling
s.t.
92
Mark Renshaw
Telenet Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
93
Kris Boeckmans
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
94
Leigh Howard
Orica - GreenEDGE
s.t.
95
Mattia Gavazzi
Santander Ciclista
s.t.
96
Nacer Bouhanni
Équipe Cycliste FDJ.fr
s.t.
97
Matteo Pelucchi
IAM Cycling
s.t.
98
Dominik Nerz
Team Giant - Allianz
s.t.
99
Maximiliano Ariel Richeze Araquistain
Lampre - Colombia
s.t.
100
Davide Appollonio
Ag2r - La Mondiale
s.t.
101
Daryl Impey
Orica - GreenEDGE
s.t.
102
Andreas Stauff
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
103
Danny Van Poppel
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
104
Rüdiger Selig
Katusha Team
s.t.
105
Jens Keukeleire
Orica - GreenEDGE
s.t.
106
Ike Groen
CyclingTeam Philips
s.t.
107
Jeff Vermeulen
CyclingTeam Philips
s.t.
108
Roger Kluge
IAM Cycling
s.t.
109
Giovanni Visconti
Movistar Team
s.t.
110
Jürgen Roelandts
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
111
Ramunas Navardauskas
Garmin-Sharp
s.t.
112
Tim De Troyer
Accent.Jobs - Wanty
s.t.
113
Ricardo García Ambroa
Santander Ciclista
s.t.
114
Andrea Fedi
Vini Fantini - Bettini
s.t.
115
Samuel Dumoulin
Ag2r - La Mondiale
s.t.
116
Kirill Pozdnyakov
RusVelo
s.t.
117
Javier Moreno Bazan
Movistar Team
s.t.
118
Jan Polanc
Movistar Team
s.t.
119
Tanner Putt
Orica - GreenEDGE
s.t.
120
Fabio Taborre
Vini Fantini - Bettini
s.t.
121
Luigi Miletta
Vini Fantini - Bettini
s.t.
122
Paweł Poljański
Tinkoff Credits System
s.t.
123
Johan Esteban Cháves Rubio
Orica - GreenEDGE
s.t.
124
Eros Capecchi
Movistar Team
s.t.
125
Damien Gaudin
Ag2r - La Mondiale
s.t.
126
Dennis Van Niekerk
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
127
Gianni Bellini
Vini Fantini - Bettini
s.t.
128
Luke Durbridge
Orica - GreenEDGE
s.t.
129
Sergey Firsanov
RusVelo
s.t.
130
Alex Dowsett
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
131
Angel Madrazo Ruiz
Santander Ciclista
s.t.
132
Jakob Fuglsang
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
133
Sergei Pomoshnikov
RusVelo
s.t.
134
Andrey Amador Bikkazakova
Movistar Team
s.t.
135
Joseph Lloyd Dombrowski
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
136
Francisco Manuel Bongiorno
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
s.t.
137
Björn Leukemans
Accent.Jobs - Wanty
s.t.
138
Tom Jelte Slagter
Garmin-Sharp
s.t.
139
Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez
Santander Ciclista
s.t.
140
Andriy Grivko
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
141
Jurgen Van Den Broeck
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
142
Bradley Wiggins
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
143
Kenny Elissonde
Équipe Cycliste FDJ.fr
s.t.
144
Daniil Fominykh
Astana Pro Team
+ 9'22
145
Francesco Lasca
Santander Ciclista
s.t.
146
Davide Vigano
Santander Ciclista
s.t.
147
Alexandre Shushemoin
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
148
Antonio Piedra Perez
Santander Ciclista
s.t.
149
Marco Canola
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
s.t.
150
Mauro Finetto
Vini Fantini - Bettini
s.t.
151
Stig Broeckx
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
152
Alessandro Vanotti
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
153
Roy Eefting
CyclingTeam Philips
s.t.
154
Daniele Colli
Vini Fantini - Bettini
s.t.
155
Matteo Montaguti
Ag2r - La Mondiale
s.t.
156
Tom Leezer
Belkin Pro Cycling
s.t.
157
Laurens De Vreese
Accent.Jobs - Wanty
s.t.
158
Melvin Boskamp
CyclingTeam Philips
s.t.
159
Stijn Vandenbergh
Telenet Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
160
Cristiano Salerno
Pepsi Pro Cycling
s.t.
161
Grégory Rast
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
162
Marko Kump
Tinkoff Credits System
+ 10'58
163
Alexander Serov
RusVelo
+ 11'47
164
Sebastian Lander
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
165
Jacopo Guarnieri
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
166
Steele Von Hoff
Garmin-Sharp
s.t.
167
Kristian Sbaragli
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
168
Fumiyuki Beppu
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
169
Omar Fraile Matarranz
Santander Ciclista
s.t.
170
Matthew Harley Goss
Orica - GreenEDGE
s.t.
171
Leonid Krasnov
RusVelo
s.t.
172
Jasper Bovenhuis
CyclingTeam Philips
s.t.
173
Adrien Niyonshuti
MTN - Qhubeka
+ 12'58
174
Jens Debusschere
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
175
Igor Boev
Tinkoff Credits System
s.t.
176
Tim Wellens
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
177
Mirko Selvaggi
Accent.Jobs - Wanty
s.t.
178
Lloyd Mondory
Ag2r - La Mondiale
s.t.
179
Michel Kreder
Accent.Jobs - Wanty
s.t.
180
Davide Villella
Ag2r - La Mondiale
s.t.
181
Arthur Ershov
RusVelo
s.t.
182
Sebastien Reichenbach
IAM Cycling
s.t.
183
Pierre Paolo Penasa
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
s.t.
184
Andrea Guardini
Astana Pro Team
+ 14'05
185
Freqalsi Debesay Abrha
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
186
Nikolai Trussov
Tinkoff Credits System
s.t.
187
Nicola Boem
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
s.t.
188
Sebastian Langeveld
Garmin-Sharp
+ 18'31
189
Francisco José Ventoso Alberdi
Movistar Team
s.t.
190
Ivan Balykin
RusVelo
s.t.
191
Sacha Modolo
Lampre - Colombia
s.t.
192
Antonino Casimiro Parrinello
CyclingTeam Philips
s.t.
193
Manuel Belletti
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
s.t.
194
Kevin Van Melsen
Accent.Jobs - Wanty
s.t.
195
Marco Coledan
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
+ 20'33
196
Gerald Ciolek
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
197
Nicola Ruffoni
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
+ 23'33
198
James Vanlandschoot
Accent.Jobs - Wanty
+ 26'50
199
Andrea Palini
Lampre - Colombia
+ 27'56
That was the most Epic Milano - Sanremo I could ever dreamed of, first my puncture, then the wind, the cold and the rain, and it's also a puncher who won the race. I'm really happy of my performance today even if I have some regrets about the fact that I had to chase to get back at the front.
Now I'm going back to Belgium for the Cobbled Classics where I will have a role of Leader in some races.
@Ian Butler: Bad luck yes, but it's also part of the beauty of cycling isn't it?
@sutty68: I did my best to bring John in the best position possible in the finish.
Dwars door Vlaanderen
The Squad:
Koen DE KORT Dries DEVENYNS Johan LE BON Anthony LOUVEILLE Ramon SINKELDAM Tom STAMSNIJDER Tom VEELERS Rick ZABEL
Pre-Race:
With John missing at the start, It was decided to put me as team leader here, my sensation were good at the training during the past few days and I felt I had something to do today. Johan was given a free role but he assured me that if I need his help he will do whatever he can.
Race Report:
The pack did not looked like he was happy with the first attackers of the day and it took 50 kilometers for a breakaway to get created. The breakaway was composed of 5 riders who were not really a threat concerning the final outcome.
A surprising event at mid-race, two riders of Accent.Jobs - Wanty, Bjorn Leukemans ( AJW) and Jan Ghyselinck ( AJW) went off the pack. Two riders of the same team with good abilities on cobblestones could be a real threat but for a reason I don't understand, Jan Ghyselinck ( AJW) just sat on his wheel and waited after the pack while is team mate was going away.
After his recent victory in Milano - Sanremo, Gerg Van Avermaet ( BMC) wanted more, and this is why he made his team mates ride at the front of the pack. Having Philippe Gilbert ( BMC), Taylor Phinney ( BMC) and Marcus Burghardt ( BMC) as team mates is really a privilege every rider would like to get.
After a terrific cobbelstone section, I ended up in front of the pack in the wheels of Stijn Vandenbergh ( TEL) and Tom Boonen ( TEL). There was still 32 kilometers to go and BMC was riding really fast behind us. Knowing that I was able to follow two master of cobblestones was a real moral boost for the end of the race.
With 22 kilometers to go came the moment that I was looking for, the attack of Greg Van Avermaet ( BMC). I tried to follow but his team mates were blocking the way on that small road. Johan immediately started to ride at the front of the pack but it was already too late the gap was made.
Few kilometers after Sep Vanmarcke ( BEL) and Tom Boonen ( TEL) went off the pack and even if I wanted to go with them I had no chance to stay in their wheels.
At that time, the advantage of Greg Van Avermaet ( BMC) was already too much to hope for victory.
He did it again, winning alone with Vanmarcke and Boonen behind fighting for a second position.
I was in the group behind and I felt the 4th position could be mine. I had not much of my energy left and I will have to make it with a good 7th position.
Race Ranking:
1
Greg Van Avermaet
BMC Racing Team
4h46'39
2
Sep Vanmarcke
Belkin Pro Cycling
+ 26
3
Tom Boonen
Telenet Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
4
Taylor Phinney
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
5
Niki Terpstra
Telenet Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
6
Marcus Burghardt
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
7
Anthony Louveille
Team Giant - Allianz
s.t.
8
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
9
Zdenek Stybar
Telenet Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
10
Philippe Gilbert
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
Spoiler
---
16
Tom Veelers
Team Giant - Allianz
s.t.
---
18
Ramon Sinkeldam
Team Giant - Allianz
s.t.
19
Johan Le Bon
Team Giant - Allianz
s.t.
---
31
Rick Zabel
Team Giant - Allianz
+ 4'22
---
44
Koen De Kort
Team Giant - Allianz
+ 5'20
45
Dries Devenyns
Team Giant - Allianz
+ 6'36
---
51
Tom Stamsnijder
Team Giant - Allianz
s.t.
My sensations on the bike are getting better and better and after each race I feel stronger than the previous one, my shape is good and I think I can still improve that before the cobblestones of the Ronde van Vlaanderen.
Thanks to that results, I might well be the leader in the E3 while John should focus on Gent - Wevelgem.
@sutty68: That was a thought day indeed but I enjoyed the race so much, I feel like I'm on my element when I'm riding cobblestones.
E3 Prijs Vlaanderen - Harelbeke
The Squad:
Koen DE KORT John DEGENKOLB Johan LE BON Anthony LOUVEILLE Ramon SINKELDAM Tom STAMSNIJDER Tom VEELERS Rick ZABEL
The profile of the race is quite similar to the one of the Ronde van Vlaanderen, and I'm already in good shape, I will be leading the team while John will be the sprinter in case a group finish.
A group of 17 riders was at the front for about 7 kilometers but this was a group that could make the chase hard. They were quickly brought back by Telenet riders and another group of 8 riders this time was finally allowed to go at the front.
After few cobbles sector, I understood why the team wanted me to do more cyclo cross. I though me how to position before a difficulty and this saved my day. Thanks to Tom Stamsnijder I was always well protected and he was always there for me if I needed something.
When we left a very hard sector, the group was reduced to maximum of 24 riders. As their leader Fabian Cancellara ( TFR) was absent due to bad injury he had in the early races of the season, Trek Factory riders were free to attack and to do "what they wanted". This is why we saw a combined attack of Jasper Stuyven ( TFR) and Bob Jungels ( TFR). The french rider Damien Gaudin ( ALM) countered them and Rick Zabel brought everyone back in the group.
The group I was in was composed of the most of my team and the only "favorite" for the win in the group was Niki Terpstra ( TEL). This is why we saw Ramon Sinkeldam and Mark Renshaw ( TEL) at the front of the group. A group formed by Peter Sagan ( PEP), Greg Van Avermaet ( BMC) and Filippo Pozzato ( LAM) was about 1'20 behind us. There were no breakaway anymore.
With 34 kilometers to go, Niki Terpstra ( TEL) attacked, the group behind us had joined us and they immediately started the chase, Johan Le Bon did most of the work in the chase but it was not enough as Terpstra was gaining time on our group.
With 11 kilometers to go I accelerated with John in my wheel. Tersptra had now about 20 kilometers of solo efforts while I was almost fresh as I was at the start, the gap was 1'04 but with 10 K to go it was very doable.
I had good legs, and so did John, he was the fastest I was the strongest so I decided to sacrifice my self for him, I was riding so fast that the group behind did not even managed to get us back. When there was two kilometers left I had Terpstra in sight, if was not looking good and I had still some energy left. I gave all I had so John could take a very wonderful victory. John launched a last acceleration in the last kilometers, Terpstra was struggling on his bike and I was watching John win the race. Terpstra resisted till the last meter but unfortunately for him John was faster than him.
Race Ranking
John Degenkolb | Team Giant - Allianz Niki Terpstra | Telenet Pro Cycling Team Anthony Louveille | Team Giant - Allianz
1
John Degenkolb
Team Giant - Allianz
5h05'03
2
Niki Terpstra
Telenet Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
3
Anthony Louveille
Team Giant - Allianz
s.t.
4
Sep Vanmarcke
Belkin Pro Cycling
+ 1'02
5
Greg Van Avermaet
BMC Racing Team
+ 1'28
6
Tom Boonen
Telenet Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
7
Filippo Pozzato
Lampre - Colombia
s.t.
8
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
9
Johan Le Bon
Team Giant - Allianz
s.t.
10
Peter Sagan
Pepsi Pro Cycling
+ 4'17
Spoiler
11
Heinrich Haussler
IAM Cycling
s.t.
12
Taylor Phinney
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
13
Louis Verhelst
Cofidis Solutions Crédits
s.t.
14
Geraint Thomas
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
15
Lars Boom
Belkin Pro Cycling
s.t.
16
Gianni Meersman
Telenet Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
17
Jasper Stuyven
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
18
Jürgen Roelandts
Lotto - Belisol
+ 6'28
19
Jan Ghyselinck
Accent.Jobs - Wanty
s.t.
20
Steve Chainel
Ag2r - La Mondiale
s.t.
21
Bob Jungels
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
22
Damien Gaudin
Ag2r - La Mondiale
s.t.
23
Matti Breschel
Tinkoff Credits System
s.t.
24
Tom Veelers
Team Giant - Allianz
s.t.
25
Johan Vansummeren
Garmin-Sharp
s.t.
26
Yoann Offredo
Équipe Cycliste FDJ.fr
+ 7'24
27
Philippe Gilbert
BMC Racing Team
+ 8'00
28
Zdenek Stybar
Telenet Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
29
Oscar Gatto
Pepsi Pro Cycling
s.t.
30
Klaas Lodewyck
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
31
Ben Hermans
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
32
Sylvain Chavanel
IAM Cycling
s.t.
33
Marcus Burghardt
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
34
Rui Alberto Faria Costa
Lampre - Colombia
s.t.
35
Moreno Moser
Pepsi Pro Cycling
s.t.
36
Tim De Troyer
Accent.Jobs - Wanty
s.t.
37
Stijn Vandenbergh
Telenet Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
38
Johan Esteban Cháves Rubio
Orica - GreenEDGE
s.t.
39
Mark Renshaw
Telenet Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
40
Florian Guillou
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
41
Daniil Fominykh
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
42
Romain Zingle
Cofidis Solutions Crédits
s.t.
43
Giovanni Visconti
Movistar Team
s.t.
44
Stijn Devolder
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
45
Yves Lampaert
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
46
Enrico Gasparotto
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
47
Michael Albasini
Orica - GreenEDGE
s.t.
48
Nathan Haas
Garmin-Sharp
s.t.
49
Matthieu Ladagnous
Équipe Cycliste FDJ.fr
s.t.
50
Yannick Eijssen
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
51
Rick Zabel
Team Giant - Allianz
s.t.
52
Yury Trofimov
Katusha Team
s.t.
53
Jesús Ezquerra Muela
Movistar Team
s.t.
54
Martin Elmiger
IAM Cycling
s.t.
55
Lloyd Mondory
Ag2r - La Mondiale
+ 11'33
56
Jens Debusschere
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
57
Tyler Farrar
Garmin-Sharp
s.t.
58
Craig Barker
Pepsi Pro Cycling
s.t.
59
Sebastian Langeveld
Garmin-Sharp
s.t.
60
Jelle Vanendert
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
61
Ben Swift
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
62
Sergio Miguel Moreira Paulinho
Tinkoff Credits System
s.t.
63
Kevin Van Melsen
Accent.Jobs - Wanty
s.t.
64
Matej Mohoric
Pepsi Pro Cycling
s.t.
65
Tom Jelte Slagter
Garmin-Sharp
s.t.
66
Ramon Sinkeldam
Team Giant - Allianz
s.t.
67
Kanstantsin Siutsou
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
68
Ignazio Moser
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
s.t.
69
Ilia Koshevoy
Lampre - Colombia
s.t.
70
Maxime Monfort
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
71
Mattia Cattaneo
Lampre - Colombia
s.t.
72
David Tanner
Belkin Pro Cycling
+ 12'52
73
Theo Bos
Belkin Pro Cycling
+ 13'31
74
Michael Valgren Andersen
Tinkoff Credits System
s.t.
75
Adrien Petit
Cofidis Solutions Crédits
s.t.
76
Nathan Earle
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
77
Michael Van Staeyen
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
78
Jens Keukeleire
Orica - GreenEDGE
s.t.
79
Valentin Baillifard
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
80
Alejandro Valverde Belmonte
Movistar Team
s.t.
81
Alex Dowsett
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
82
Jussi Veikkanen
Équipe Cycliste FDJ.fr
s.t.
83
Arthur Vichot
Équipe Cycliste FDJ.fr
s.t.
84
Ricardo Augusto Afonso Vilela
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
85
Joshua Edmondson
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
86
Kirill Sveshnikov
Tinkoff Credits System
s.t.
87
Frederik Backaert
Accent.Jobs - Wanty
s.t.
88
Alexandre Shushemoin
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
89
Oliver Zaugg
Tinkoff Credits System
s.t.
90
Frederik Willems
Accent.Jobs - Wanty
s.t.
91
Florian Vachon
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
92
Gatis Smukulis
Katusha Team
s.t.
93
Gustav Erik Larsson
IAM Cycling
s.t.
94
Robert Wagner
Belkin Pro Cycling
s.t.
95
Gert Dockx
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
96
Juan Pablo Valencia Gonzalez
Lampre - Colombia
s.t.
97
Clément Koretzky
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
98
Tanel Kangert
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
99
Jay McCarthy
Tinkoff Credits System
s.t.
100
Fabio Aru
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
101
Rudy MacDonald
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
102
Luke Durbridge
Orica - GreenEDGE
s.t.
103
Pieter Jacobs
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
104
Dmitriy Muravyev
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
105
Thomas Degand
Accent.Jobs - Wanty
s.t.
106
Ivan Rovny
Tinkoff Credits System
s.t.
107
Sander Armée
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
108
Robbie Squire
Garmin-Sharp
s.t.
109
Daniel Martin
Garmin-Sharp
s.t.
110
Andrea Manfredi
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
+ 15'50
111
Francisco Manuel Bongiorno
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
s.t.
112
Emilien Viennet
Équipe Cycliste FDJ.fr
s.t.
113
Arnaud Gérard
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
114
Pierre Henri Lecuisinier
Équipe Cycliste FDJ.fr
s.t.
115
Amaël Moinard
Cofidis Solutions Crédits
s.t.
116
Luis Angel Mate Mardones
Cofidis Solutions Crédits
s.t.
117
Stefano Locatelli
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
s.t.
118
Benoit Vaugrenard
Équipe Cycliste FDJ.fr
s.t.
119
Alexandre Geniez
Équipe Cycliste FDJ.fr
s.t.
120
Mitchell Lovelock-Fay
Orica - GreenEDGE
s.t.
121
Nikolas Maes
Telenet Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
122
Jetse Bol
Belkin Pro Cycling
s.t.
123
Jan Hirt
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
124
Vegard Stake Laengen
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
125
Karel Hnik
Telenet Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
126
Svein Tuft
Orica - GreenEDGE
s.t.
127
José Rodolfo Serpa Perez
Lampre - Colombia
s.t.
128
Valerio Conti
Lampre - Colombia
s.t.
129
Brian Bach Vandborg
Pepsi Pro Cycling
s.t.
130
Marc Goos
Belkin Pro Cycling
s.t.
131
Beñat Intxausti Elorriaga
Movistar Team
+ 17'45
132
Viacheslav Kuznetsov
Katusha Team
s.t.
133
Evan Huffman
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
134
Guillaume Bonnafond
Ag2r - La Mondiale
s.t.
135
Tsgabu Gebremariam Grmay
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
136
Hugo Houle
Ag2r - La Mondiale
s.t.
137
José Herrada Lopez
Movistar Team
s.t.
138
Sam Bewley
Orica - GreenEDGE
s.t.
139
Andrey Zeits
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
140
Armindo Fonseca
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
141
Perrig Quemeneur
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
142
Guillaume Levarlet
Cofidis Solutions Crédits
s.t.
143
Laurent Wernimont
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
144
Alberto Bettiol
Pepsi Pro Cycling
+ 19'29
145
Mirko Selvaggi
Accent.Jobs - Wanty
s.t.
146
Steven Lammertink
Belkin Pro Cycling
s.t.
147
Yauheni Hutarovich
Ag2r - La Mondiale
s.t.
148
Fränk Schleck
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
149
Paolo Colonna
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
s.t.
150
Christophe Laborie
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
151
Giampaolo Caruso
Katusha Team
s.t.
152
Grégory Habeaux
Accent.Jobs - Wanty
s.t.
153
Pablo Torres Muiño
Movistar Team
s.t.
154
Alberto Losada Alguacil
Katusha Team
s.t.
155
Thomas Sprengers
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
156
Clément Venturini
Cofidis Solutions Crédits
s.t.
157
Kilian Frankiny
IAM Cycling
s.t.
158
Matthew Busche
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
159
Dennis Vanendert
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
160
Cristofaro Gritti
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
s.t.
161
Nicolas Edet
Cofidis Solutions Crédits
s.t.
162
Johann Tschopp
IAM Cycling
s.t.
163
Gijs Van Hoecke
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
+ 21'15
164
Rodolfo Andres Torres Agudelo
Lampre - Colombia
s.t.
165
Nicola Boem
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
s.t.
166
Juraj Sagan
Pepsi Pro Cycling
s.t.
167
Paul Lynch
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
168
Aleksejs Saramotins
IAM Cycling
s.t.
169
Donato De Ieso
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
s.t.
170
Andrei Strelkov
Tinkoff Credits System
s.t.
171
Germano Cantaluppi
IAM Cycling
s.t.
172
Moreno De Pauw
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
+ 22'08
173
Danny Pate
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
174
Adrian Hegyvari
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
175
Maxim Belkov
Katusha Team
s.t.
176
Daniel Summerhill
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
177
Petr Ignatenko
Katusha Team
s.t.
178
Victor Campenaerts
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
179
Milton Pelham
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
180
Egor Silin
Katusha Team
s.t.
181
Matteo Montaguti
Ag2r - La Mondiale
s.t.
182
José Luis Arribas
Movistar Team
s.t.
183
Koen De Kort
Team Giant - Allianz
s.t.
184
Tom Stamsnijder
Team Giant - Allianz
+ 23'16
185
Bradley White
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
+ 25'11
186
Kiel Reijnen
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
+ 25'36
187
Damien Howson
Orica - GreenEDGE
s.t.
188
Eliot Lietaer
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
189
Rubén Plaza Molina
Movistar Team
s.t.
190
Isaac Bolivar Hernandez
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
191
Axel Domont
Ag2r - La Mondiale
s.t.
What a race, three riders of the team in the top 10, a victory and a top 3 for me. that's was the perfct day for the team. After the podium ceremony, John came to me and he gave me the Trophy saying "you deserve it more than me, you did all the job". I was so proud of his victory and I knew this mine too, but him saying that was something very nice.
After that race I'm very confident about my Ronde van Vlaanderen and why not Paris - Roubaix.
#MTDCT perfect day here in Belgium, the team is great and so are the results. Thanks to all the fan that were there:D pic.twitter.com/qEHr5leEqZ
@sutty68: And that's not over I do not only like cobbles, it looks like they like me too
@welker3257: We are perhaps to good to early, there are still difficult races to come
Gent - Wevelgem
The Squad:
Koen DE KORT John DEGENKOLB Johan LE BON Anthony LOUVEILLE Ramon SINKELDAM Tom STAMSNIJDER Tom VEELERS Rick ZABEL
A race made mostly for sprinters, the two ascension of the Kemmelberg will surely make a selection but group of about 50 riders should fight fr victory.
Today the team decided to bet on John. This is understandable looking at his last results. I was given a free role so I was not obliged to work for John. I was also given protection during the first part of the race and Tom Stamsnijder was my protector.
A group of 7 riders managed to leave the pack 40 kilometers after the start. The pace of the pack during these 40 kilometers was very high and I was sure that it would have consequences on the final of the race.
The French Champion Arthur Vichot ( FDJ) was part of the breakaway.
Then the race went quietly, nothing happened. the pack was sleeping and I used my power on cobblestones to accelerate at the end of the second passage of the Kemmelberg. I hoped someone would follow but I was all alone. There was about 40 kilometers to go and I knew this would be tough to do it. The only good thing was that the breakaway was still there and the pack was quite disorganized as some leaders were caught in breaks at the back of the pack.
With 9 kilometers left I was still alone at the front. The pack had me in their sight and the gap was down to 50". My legs were burning and I was almost empty. In the radio I heard that Johan, Ramon and Tom Veelers were still with John. That gave me an opportunity of going on even if my chances were low.
Once I'd been eaten by the front of the pack, Johan went to the front to avoid any attacks from a rider that would like to anticipate the sprint. He did is job perfectly and Tom Veelers just had to put John at the front.
He was the fastest and he knew it, no one could match with his speed and he won (again) with large advantage.
I ended the race at the 16th position which is not bad at all after all my efforts at the front.
Race Ranking:
John Degenkolb | Team Giant - Allianz Peter Sagan | Pepsi Pro Cycling Filippo Pozzato [ Lampre - Colombia
1
John Degenkolb
Team Giant - Allianz
5h18'42
2
Peter Sagan
Pepsi Pro Cycling
s.t.
3
Filippo Pozzato
Lampre - Colombia
s.t.
4
Niki Terpstra
Telenet Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
5
Greg Van Avermaet
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
6
Sep Vanmarcke
Belkin Pro Cycling
s.t.
7
Zdenek Stybar
Telenet Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
8
Lars Boom
Belkin Pro Cycling
s.t.
9
Matti Breschel
Tinkoff Credits System
s.t.
10
Heinrich Haussler
IAM Cycling
s.t.
Spoiler
---
13
Roman Sinkeldam
Team Giant - Allianz
s.t.
14
Johan Le Bon
Team Giant - Allianz
s.t.
---
16
Anthony Louveille
Team Giant - Allianz
s.t.
17
Tom Veelers
Team Giant - Allianz
s.t.
---
78
Rick Zabel
Team Giant - Allianz
+ 7'00
---
192
Tom Stamsnijder
Team Giant - Allianz
+ 17'53
193
Koen De Kort
Team Giant - Allianz
+ 18'37
Once again went to the front, and since I'm not nobody anymore in the pack it's really hard to do something alone. My only regrets would be not having been followed when I accelerated.
But the victory of John is the best consolation I could dream of. And one day my time will come too.
I plan to race the VDK - Driedaagse De Panne - Koksijde as a warm up before the Ronde van Vlaanderen.
#MTDCT another day on the attack, too bad I was alone. Great job done by John once again, the team is on a cloud :D pic.twitter.com/vfo2L4aoAb
@sutty68: I've never said the contrary, the boys were in the warm of the pack while I was dying at the front and in the end it worth it.
@Ian Butler: If I had to do it again, I would. John would have done the same thing for me and this is why I had no problem about this sacrifice and a first position is still way better then a second and a third position
Volta Ciclista a Catalunya
Race Ranking
1
Thomas Löfkvist
IAM Cycling
20h21'13
2
Dario Cataldo
Sky ProCycling
+ 1'04
3
Romain Bardet
Ag2r - La Mondiale
+ 1'23
4
Igor Anton Hernandez
Movistar Team
+ 1'29
5
Daniel Ricardo Diaz
Movistar Team
+ 1'40
6
Thomas De Gendt
Telenet Pro Cycling Team
+ 1'43
7
Michal Kwiatkowski
Telenet Pro Cycling Team
+ 1'56
8
Rigoberto Uran Uran
Telenet Pro Cycling Team
+ 2'01
9
Andrey Amador Bikkazakova
Movistar Team
+ 2'59
10
Haimar Zubeldia Agirre
Santander Ciclista
+ 3'36
---
19
Wilco Kelderman
Team Giant - Allianz
+ 5'31
Points Ranking: Mark Cavendish | Telenet Pro Cycling Team
Mountain Ranking: Rigoberto Uran Uran | Telenet Pro Cycling Team
Young Ranking:Wilco Kelderman | Team Giant - Allianz
Team Ranking: Telenet Pro Cycling Team
VDK - Driedaagse De Panne - Koksijde
General Ranking
1
Niki Terpstra
Telenet Pro Cycling Team
11h40'16
2
Peter Sagan
Pepsi Pro Cycling
+ 55
3
Zdenek Stybar
Telenet Pro Cycling Team
+ 2'15
4
Johan Le Bon
Team Giant - Allianz
+ 2'44
5
Jan Ghyselinck
Accent.Jobs - Wanty
+ 2'51
---
12
Anthony Louveille
Team Giant - Allianz
+ 4'16
Points Ranking: Peter Sagan | Pepsi Pro Cycling
Young Ranking:Anthony Louveille | Team Giant - Allianz
Team Ranking: Telenet Pro Cycling Team
Ronde van Vlaanderen
The race would be hard, the three succession of the Oude Kwaremont and of the Paterberg will surely make a selection so a lonely man or a small group could could fight for the victory in Oudenaarde. I'm the leader of the team with John as a co-leader due to his recent results.
The beginning of the race was very fast, many riders wanted to be in the breakaway and this led the pack toward the 60th kilometer without having a single rider at the front. After these 60 kilometers, the pack slow down a bit and this let a chance to 10 riders of going away. Tom Veelers was one of them and he was considered as the bast suited for the profile of today's race.
Many teams which had no riders at the front had two option, either ride at the front of the pack or attack. The second option was chosen by IAM cycling who send Sylvain Chavanel ( IAm) at the front with 134 kilometers to go.
Two other teams chose this option, Garmin and Cofidis had Johan Vansummeren ( GRS) and the talented Belgium rider Louis Verhelst ( COF) in a chase group behind the breakaway.
The pack was mainly led by BMC and Belkin but their entente was not the best they could hope.
And finally BMC was alone at the front of the pack, indeed, the Dutch rider Tom Leezer ( BEL) had broke away with 115 kilometers to go.
Telenet who had high expectations on Niki Terpstra ( TEL) went to the front to help BMC in the chase.
Then the race was quite "easier", we had already do some cobblestones but the hardest was still ahead of us.
We entered the feed zone with a delay of about 4' on the breakaway. Telenet and Lampre were now riding hard to get this gap down but the presence of great riders at the front was not helping the chase.
I did not panic at that time, I was not a favorite, nor was I an outsiders, it looked like bookmakers had already forgotten about my ride in the E3.
On the first passage of the Oude Kwaremont, John came to me and he said" I'm not having my best day so I think the best would be that I bring you as far as I can so you should not do too much efforts, so hang on to my wheel". I was pleased to see I had a luxury team mate for the next few kilometers.
By the second passage of the Oude Kwaremont, the group was down to 21 riders, the gap was up to 3'05 and the group was led by Niki Terpstra ( TEL) himself. John was giving his last pull before going to the back of the pack.
Between the second Paterberg and the last Oude Kwaremount, there was a small hill that made suffer many legs, mine were fine so I accelerated.
As Niki Terpstra ( TEL), Greg Van Avermaet ( BMC) and Sep Vanmarcke ( BEL) had already accelerated at a moment where I was at my maximum, I was then chasing a group of 5 riders who were 2'44 ahead of me.
In the last ascension of the Oude Kwaremount, Peter Sagan ( PEP) brought back a small group of riders in my wheel. The gap with the front had was melting as they did not managed to get on well together. I did a constant efforts, without paying attention to the riders next to me. I was in a time trial, I was acting like it was training.
We had joined the lead before the last Paterberg, that was my chance, and I did not missed it.
When Greg Van Avermaet ( BMC) attacked, I countered his acceleration in the wheel of Sep Vanmarcke ( BEL). My legs were starting to burn but I was still feeling fine.
At the end of the Paterberg, the three had a slight gap that I had to cover if I wanted to believe in victory. At that time of the race, many feelings went through my heads but the only thing I focused on was to stay on my bike at the moment.
To my own surprised I had no problem joining them so when I realized that they were not really fighting for it I decided to attack. They watched at me leaving without any reaction. They were like "yeah, go, we are watching you,...". They may have thought I would not hold the distance.
They might have been wrong has even when they decided to react, they had troubles catching me and in their group I eared it was only attacks and counter attacks.
I was riding constantly, pushing my limits to another level, there were still 9,6 kilometers to go and I was almost dead.
With 5 kilometers left I was still leading and the gap was rising, the last one the organization gave me was up to 36". I was now believing in the victory, at the age of 22 that would be quite an amazing achievment, the last french winner of that race was Jacky Durand and it was in 1992, I wasn't even born.
When I arrived in the last kilometer alone with the assistant car behind me I knew I had it, and that would be a deserved one. To the one who though I was just a sprinter, well they had their proof I wasn't. I took my time to enjoy the crowd who was just amazing with me, for one second I felt like I was Belgian.
And I did it, I won my second monuments after Il Lombardia. Two races completely different and to be honest I'm more happy about my victory here today than last year in Italy. I was writing the/my history and I'm not planning to stop it soon.
Greg Van Avermaet ( BMC) won the sprint for second and Sep Vanmarcke ( BEL) ended third. They might have plenty of regrets letting me out in that race.
After recovering from my effort (well when I managed to walk I assumed it was enough for them to bring me to the press room).
Journalist: I'm here with the surprising winner of the race, Anthony, nobody expected you today but you were there in the final and you even had the audacity to attack the big favorite what's the feeling right now?
Me: I'm relief, I can say that this is over. I had a whole team dedicated to me during the race and even if I was isolated sooner than the others, I managed to take my strength in their weakness.
Journalist: This morning, in Brugge no one would have bet on you, and now your are there standing by my side for something that I assume you did not even though about?
Me: Well, I did though of it, in the last kilometers but I did the race I had to do and the other did not play their cards well. When I accelerated after the Paterberg, they could have follow me without any troubles but they did not so I assumed they were too tired to do it or they wanted me to win,and I'm not sure about the second option.
Journalist: Last question before you go on the podium, did you think that next year you will still be able to get the victory?
Me: I'm not sure, I mean a race like that is full of events that could blow up your ride. I'm not going to focus on next season yet as there are still plenty of races before January.
Journalist: Thanks for your time and again congratulations.
After that quick interview I was going to the podium for the ceremony. A French surrounded by two Belgians in their race is quite not what they wanted but as they are an amazing public I had now problem about that.
Anthony Louveille | Team Giant - Allianz Greg Van Avermaet | BMC Racing Team Sep Vanmarcke | Belkin Pro Cycling
Race Ranking
1
Anthony Louveille
Team Giant - Allianz
6h38'15
2
Greg Van Avermaet
BMC Racing Team
+ 41
3
Sep Vanmarcke
Belkin Pro Cycling
s.t.
4
Niki Terpstra
Telenet Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
5
Lars Boom
Belkin Pro Cycling
s.t.
6
Peter Sagan
Pepsi Pro Cycling
s.t.
7
Tom Boonen
Telenet Pro Cycling Team
+ 2'16
8
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
9
Jasper Stuyven
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
10
Jürgen Roelandts
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Philippe Gilbert
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
12
Filippo Pozzato
Lampre - Colombia
s.t.
13
Sebastian Langeveld
Garmin-Sharp
s.t.
14
Yoann Offredo
Équipe Cycliste FDJ.fr
s.t.
15
Louis Verhelst
Cofidis Solutions Crédits
s.t.
16
Sylvain Chavanel
IAM Cycling
s.t.
17
Geraint Thomas
Sky ProCycling
+ 3'39
18
Johan Vansummeren
Garmin-Sharp
s.t.
19
Heinrich Haussler
IAM Cycling
+ 4'13
20
John Degenkolb
Team Giant - Allianz
+ 7'26
21
Marcus Burghardt
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
22
Ramon Sinkeldam
Team Giant - Allianz
s.t.
23
Sébastien Turgot
Ag2r - La Mondiale
s.t.
24
Romain Zingle
Cofidis Solutions Crédits
+ 8'33
25
Johan Le Bon
Team Giant - Allianz
+ 9'43
26
Zdenek Stybar
Telenet Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
27
Taylor Phinney
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
28
Stijn Vandenbergh
Telenet Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
29
Tom Leezer
Belkin Pro Cycling
s.t.
30
Klaas Lodewyck
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
31
Johnny Hoogerland
CyclingTeam Philips
s.t.
32
Damien Gaudin
Ag2r - La Mondiale
s.t.
33
Nick Nuyens
Garmin-Sharp
s.t.
34
Ian Stannard
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
35
Oscar Gatto
Pepsi Pro Cycling
s.t.
36
Gianni Meersman
Telenet Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
37
Moreno Moser
Pepsi Pro Cycling
+ 11'34
38
Arthur Vichot
Équipe Cycliste FDJ.fr
s.t.
39
Maxime Bouet
Ag2r - La Mondiale
s.t.
40
Vladimir Gusev
Katusha Team
+ 12'13
41
Adrien Petit
Cofidis Solutions Crédits
s.t.
42
Mitchell Lovelock-Fay
Orica - GreenEDGE
s.t.
43
Jens Debusschere
Lotto - Belisol
+ 13'23
44
Kristof Vandewalle
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
45
Enrico Barbin
Pepsi Pro Cycling
s.t.
46
Larry Warbasse
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
47
Pello Bilbao Lopez De Armentia
Santander Ciclista
s.t.
48
Thomas Degand
Accent.Jobs - Wanty
s.t.
49
Steve Chainel
Ag2r - La Mondiale
s.t.
50
Craig Barker
Pepsi Pro Cycling
s.t.
51
Giovanni Visconti
Movistar Team
s.t.
52
Roger Kluge
IAM Cycling
s.t.
53
Nick Van Der Lijke
Belkin Pro Cycling
s.t.
54
Dylan Groenewegen
CyclingTeam Philips
s.t.
55
Mikhail Ignatiev
Katusha Team
s.t.
56
Matti Breschel
Tinkoff Credits System
s.t.
57
Marco Marcato
Pepsi Pro Cycling
s.t.
58
Stijn Devolder
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
59
Tim De Troyer
Accent.Jobs - Wanty
s.t.
60
Rui Alberto Faria Costa
Lampre - Colombia
s.t.
61
Ilnur Zakarin
Tinkoff Credits System
s.t.
62
Rick Zabel
Team Giant - Allianz
s.t.
63
Tom Scully
Orica - GreenEDGE
s.t.
64
Martin Elmiger
IAM Cycling
s.t.
65
Arthur Vanoverberghe
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
66
Dennis Vanendert
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
67
Grégory Rast
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
68
Huub Duyn
CyclingTeam Philips
s.t.
69
Maarten Tjallingii
Belkin Pro Cycling
s.t.
70
Mark Renshaw
Telenet Pro Cycling Team
+ 15'33
71
Jasper Bovenhuis
CyclingTeam Philips
+ 16'13
72
Yoeri Havik
Belkin Pro Cycling
+ 17'02
73
Karsten Kroon
Tinkoff Credits System
s.t.
74
Frederik Willems
Accent.Jobs - Wanty
+ 18'07
75
Theo Bos
Belkin Pro Cycling
+ 18'31
76
Michael Albasini
Orica - GreenEDGE
s.t.
77
Yves Lampaert
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
78
Nikolas Maes
Telenet Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
79
Luca Wackermann
Lampre - Colombia
s.t.
80
Nathan Earle
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
81
Jonas Vangenechten
Lotto - Belisol
+ 19'15
82
Thomas Moses
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
83
Jens Keukeleire
Orica - GreenEDGE
s.t.
84
John Darwin Atapuma Hurtado
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
85
Romain Bardet
Ag2r - La Mondiale
s.t.
86
Benoit Vaugrenard
Équipe Cycliste FDJ.fr
s.t.
87
Jérôme Baugnies
Accent.Jobs - Wanty
+ 19'56
88
Ben Swift
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
89
Tyler Farrar
Garmin-Sharp
s.t.
90
Kristian Sbaragli
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
91
Lars Ytting Bak
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
92
Daniel Martin
Garmin-Sharp
s.t.
93
Sebastian Salas
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
94
Rafael Valls Ferri
Lampre - Colombia
s.t.
95
Fabian Cancellara
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
96
Jos Van Emden
Belkin Pro Cycling
s.t.
97
Alexandre Geniez
Équipe Cycliste FDJ.fr
s.t.
98
Thomas Peterson
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
99
Jelle Vanendert
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
100
Rudy MacDonald
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
101
Sergio Miguel Moreira Paulinho
Tinkoff Credits System
s.t.
102
Imanol Erviti Ollo
Santander Ciclista
+ 22'17
103
Sebastian Henao Marin
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
104
Michael Van Staeyen
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
105
Gatis Smukulis
Katusha Team
s.t.
106
Arnaud Gérard
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
107
Clément Koretzky
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
108
Cédric Pineau
Équipe Cycliste FDJ.fr
s.t.
109
Alejandro Valverde Belmonte
Movistar Team
s.t.
110
Michael Mørkøv Christensen
Tinkoff Credits System
s.t.
111
Juraj Sagan
Pepsi Pro Cycling
s.t.
112
Valerio Conti
Lampre - Colombia
s.t.
113
George Bennett
Pepsi Pro Cycling
s.t.
114
Daniel Navarro Garcia
Cofidis Solutions Crédits
s.t.
115
Philip Gaimon
Garmin-Sharp
s.t.
116
Ilia Koshevoy
Lampre - Colombia
s.t.
117
Gang Xu
Lampre - Colombia
s.t.
118
Igor Anton Hernandez
Movistar Team
+ 23'21
119
Tom Jelte Slagter
Garmin-Sharp
s.t.
120
Florian Vachon
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
121
Cyril Lemoine
Cofidis Solutions Crédits
s.t.
122
Evgeniy Shalunov
Katusha Team
s.t.
123
Jesús Ezquerra Muela
Movistar Team
s.t.
124
Daniel Ricardo Diaz
Movistar Team
+ 25'11
125
Lasse Norman Hansen
Garmin-Sharp
s.t.
126
Daniil Fominykh
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
127
Mikel Landa Meana
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
128
Daniel Eduardo Moreira Silva
Santander Ciclista
s.t.
129
Sander Armée
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
130
Serge Pauwels
Telenet Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
131
Omar Fraile Matarranz
Santander Ciclista
s.t.
132
Patrick Konrad
IAM Cycling
s.t.
133
Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
134
Dmitriy Muravyev
Astana Pro Team
+ 26'10
135
Jani Tewelde Weldegaber
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
136
Svein Tuft
Orica - GreenEDGE
+ 26'40
137
Arnold Jeannesson
Équipe Cycliste FDJ.fr
s.t.
138
Samuel Sánchez Gonzalez
Santander Ciclista
s.t.
139
Frederik Backaert
Accent.Jobs - Wanty
s.t.
140
Guillaume Levarlet
Cofidis Solutions Crédits
s.t.
141
Luke Durbridge
Orica - GreenEDGE
s.t.
142
Laurens De Vreese
Accent.Jobs - Wanty
s.t.
143
Jan Polanc
Movistar Team
s.t.
144
Jacques Janse Van Rensburg
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
145
Niccolò Bonifazio
Lampre - Colombia
s.t.
146
Kenny Elissonde
Équipe Cycliste FDJ.fr
s.t.
147
Alexandre Shushemoin
Astana Pro Team
+ 27'27
148
Johann Tschopp
IAM Cycling
s.t.
149
Luis Angel Mate Mardones
Cofidis Solutions Crédits
s.t.
150
Alex Frame
Orica - GreenEDGE
s.t.
151
Melvin Boskamp
CyclingTeam Philips
s.t.
152
Florian Guillou
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
153
Fabio Aru
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
154
Stefan Denifl
IAM Cycling
s.t.
155
Vegard Stake Laengen
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
156
Aleksandr Rybakov
Katusha Team
s.t.
157
Jeff Vermeulen
CyclingTeam Philips
+ 28'55
158
Eros Capecchi
Movistar Team
s.t.
159
Yury Trofimov
Katusha Team
s.t.
160
Yauheni Hutarovich
Ag2r - La Mondiale
s.t.
161
Viacheslav Kuznetsov
Katusha Team
s.t.
162
Armindo Fonseca
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
163
Marcel Wyss
IAM Cycling
s.t.
164
Ben Gastauer
Ag2r - La Mondiale
s.t.
165
Egor Silin
Katusha Team
s.t.
166
Eduardo Sepulveda
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
167
Dennis Van Niekerk
MTN - Qhubeka
+ 29'49
168
José Herrada Lopez
Movistar Team
s.t.
169
Perrig Quemeneur
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
170
Ricardo Van Der Velde
CyclingTeam Philips
s.t.
171
Paolo Tiralongo
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
172
Youcef Reguigui
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
173
Marcos Garcia Fernandez
Santander Ciclista
s.t.
174
Alessandro Vanotti
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
175
Johann Van Zyl
MTN - Qhubeka
+ 30'37
176
Victor Campenaerts
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
177
Alex Dowsett
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
178
Ilya Davidenok
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
179
Julien Bérard
Ag2r - La Mondiale
s.t.
180
Gijs Van Hoecke
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
181
Roy Eefting
CyclingTeam Philips
s.t.
182
Clément Venturini
Cofidis Solutions Crédits
s.t.
183
Kevin Seeldraeyers
Accent.Jobs - Wanty
s.t.
184
Jaco Venter
MTN - Qhubeka
+ 31'40
Today I was like a stranger to many people, now when I will go to Belgium everyone will watch me. I have to admit that I was not thinking about the victory this morning. I wanted a top 10 or a top 5 but the victory was not really in my plans.
I started to think of it when I attacked after the second Paterberg, my legs were fine and I was seeing pain on the face of many favorites.
The race condition also helped me to win but the most important was my team, first Tom Veelers who was in the breakaway so we did not have to chase, then Tom Stamsnijder who protected me untill the firts Oude Kwaremount and then John, Ramon and Johan. Koen de Kort was not feeling well today and he had to withdraw early in the race and Rick was discovering the race when he crash in the second sector.
#MTDCT What can I say, I still don't realized it, thanks to the team for the faith they have in me. o/ VICTORY pic.twitter.com/kNKNMrYRgd
@welker3257: to be honest, neither was I but a win is a win and will not refuse it
@ Ian Butler: well my twist are in the game play and even I can't now them before it happen I'm going to my own pace and sometimes instead of simulating everything I like to play one stage or two of WT stage races so the results stay realistic
The day after my victory in the Ronde van Vlaanderen, I had the honors of being in the front page of the newspaper L'Equipe. They arrange a meeting with me after the spring classics so I can answer to some question they want to ask me. I am really proud of my victory and the team rewarded me well, they offered me a car (wish I had my driving license ) and a paid bill for two people in the restaurant of my choice (wish I had a girl friend ). I celebrated the victory with the whole classic squad and some other dutch riders that stayed in the Netherlands.
Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco
General Ranking:
1
Alberto Contador Velasco
Pepsi Pro Cycling
21h48'00
2
Andrew Talansky
Garmin-Sharp
+ 58
3
Carlos Alberto Betancur Gomez
Ag2r - La Mondiale
+ 1'01
4
Thomas De Gendt
Telenet Pro Cycling Team
+ 2'55
5
Vincenzo Nibali
Astana Pro Team
+ 3'42
---
8
Warren Barguil
Team Giant - Allianz
+ 6'30
Points Ranking: Carlos Alberto Betancur Gomez | Ag2r - La Mondiale
Mountain Ranking: Rafael Valls Ferri | Lampre - Colombia
Young Ranking:Warren Barguil | Team Giant - Allianz
Team Ranking: Pepsi Pro Cycling
Scheldeprijs
Race Ranking
1
John Degenkolb
Team Giant - Allianz
4h34"07
2
Matthew Harley Goss
Orica - GreenEDGE
s.t.
3
Tyler Farrar
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
4
Julien Simon
Cofidis Solutions Crédits
s.t.
5
Arnaud Démare
Équipe Cycliste FDJ.fr
s.t.
6
Taylor Phinney
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
7
Klaas Lodewick
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
8
Yoann Offredo
Équipe Cycliste FDJ.fr
s.t.
9
Mark Renshaw
Telenet Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
10
Anthony Louveille
Team Giant - Allianz
s.t.
Paris - Roubaix
The Squad:
John DEGENKOLB Koen DE KORT Johan LE BON Anthony LOUVEILLE Ramon SINKELDAM Tom STAMSNIJDER Tom VEELERS Rick ZABEL
That race is not called the "Hell of the North'' for nothing, 250 kilometers to do, more than 40 kilometers of cobblestones and sometimes the quality of the road could be compared to a a smooth paved road. I was the leader of the team once again and after my victory in Belgium nobody contested it. John was given a free role and Rick is supposed to be in the breakaway.
The profile of the race is a perfect match for the qualities of Niki Terpstra ( TEL). I don't think I will once again surprise every body here as I'm lacking of power on flat roads. The other favorites today are Sep Vanmarcke ( BEL) and Gerg Van Avermaet ( BMC).
The pace of the race was so fast at the beginning as every team wanted a rider in the breakaway, that none got formed before Troisvilles. We were going so fast that we maid the way to Troisvilles in less than 2 hours. Many riders hit the cobblestones with tired legs, the race was already announced hard.
A group of 8 riders finally managed to get away on the first cobblestones of the day but their pain was not over. Rick Zabel was too tired of his successive attacks to leave the pack and he missed the right group.
Many teams who had no riders at the front wanted to speed up the pack. Telenet riders were at the front imposing the pace so they would not have to face other attacks.
Some riders eventually attacked and the pack let them go without fighting a lot.
With 139 kilometers remaining, it was Alexander Kristoff ( KAT) and Tony Gallopin ( LTB) who were on the attack.
Many great riders left the pack in the early cobblestones and when Nick Nuyens ( GRS) and Tom Boonen ( TEL) accelerated, John decided to follow them. the pack let them go and a group of about 15 riders was now at the front.
A group of 9 riders arrived in the Trouée d'Arenberg, they were led by Sylvain Chavanel ( IAM) and John was part of it. Trek was represented by two riders, Gregory Rast ( TFR) and Bob Jungels ( TFR). Cofidis had Louis Verhelst ( COF), Telenet Tom Boonen ( TEL), Katusha Alexander Kristoff ( KAT), Lotto Tony Gallopin ( LTB) and finally Garmin had Nick Nuyens ( GRS).
The pack (35 riders) entered the Trouée d'Arenberg 4'09 after the lead riders, The chase was led by Garmin - Sharp rider Sebastian Langeveld ( GRS) and by Matti Breschel ( TCS) fo Tinkoff. We were still three of the team in that group, there was Johan, Ramon and I.
The lead riders were brought back in the pack when there was 60 kilometers to go. After not getting on well together they all stopped riding at the front.
Another rider that had a bad day was the Swiss Champion Fabian Cancellara ( TFR). It looked like he was not fully healed of his injury.
Telenet had no one to chase but they wanted to tired everyone in the group, Zdenek Stybar ( TEL), Tom Boonen ( TEL) and Stijn Vandenbergh ( TEL) were clearly working for Niki Terpstar ( TEL). The pace was so high that nobody could even accelerate or attack.
When we left Mons-en-Pévèle, a group of about 20 riders was at the front. I was the only one for Giant - Allianz as Johan had a puncture in the cobbled sector.
The race was getting harder and harder and it was almost impossible to follow the pace imposed by Telenet riders. And then Belkin joined the fight to prepare Sep Vanmarcke ( BEL) for the finish.
The most predictive event happened as soon as we hit the cobblestones of the Carrefour de L'Arbre, a group of 6 riders composed of Niki Terpstra ( TEL), Zdenek Stybar ( TEL), Filippo Pozzato ( LAM), Sep Vanmarcke ( BEL), Lars Boom ( BEL) and Sebastian Langeveld ( GRS) went away. They quickly had a important gap as everyone behind was having some rest for their legs.
With 19 kilometers to go, Niki Terpstra ( TEL) was all alone at the front. His main opponents were not far but he looked like he still had energy.
I was already 2' behind him in the 4th chasing group.
The lead man arrived in Roubaix with a lead of 1' on Sep Vanmarcke ( BEL), he was clearly the strongest here and no one or nothing could have blocked him from taking the victory.
Niki Terpstra ( TEL) took his time to enjoy the victory. No one could match his power and with amazing help from his team he managed to get a wonderful victory. Sep Vanmarcke ( BEL) arrived 1'43 after him and Filippo Pozzato ( LAM) 3'23!!!
Concerning myself, I was not fighting for a top 10 anymore and I entered the velodrome 6'40 after the winner!!! My legs were hurting so bad and my saddle was so painful after more than 6 hours of races.
And at that precise moment I decided I would race the Ardennes Classic in late April.
After I crossed the line I fell of my bike, I had to get some medical assistance and to be sure everything was alright I was brought to the nearest hospital for tests. Niki Terpstra went to receive his price on the podium and the first French to arrive in Roubaix was Yoann Offredo ( FDJ) who ended at the 7th position. I was told by the doctors that I had ended at the 13th position.
Race Ranking
Niki Terpstra | Telenet Pro Cycling Team Sep Vanmarcke | Belkin Pro Cycling Filippo Pozzato | Lampre - Colombia
1
Niki Terpstra
Telenet Pro Cycling Team
6h45'27
2
Sep Vanmarcke
Belkin Pro Cycling
+ 1'43
3
Filippo Pozzato
Lampre - Colombia
+ 3'23
4
Zdenek Stybar
Telenet Pro Cycling Team
+ 4'20
5
Greg Van Avermaet
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
6
Sebastian Langeveld
Garmin-Sharp
s.t.
7
Yoann Offredo
Équipe Cycliste FDJ.fr
s.t.
8
Marcus Burghardt
BMC Racing Team
+ 5'27
9
Lars Boom
Belkin Pro Cycling
s.t.
10
Geraint Thomas
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Damien Gaudin
Ag2r - La Mondiale
s.t.
12
Matti Breschel
Tinkoff Credits System
+ 6'38
13
Anthony Louveille
Team Giant - Allianz
+ 7'04
14
Lars Ytting Bak
Lotto - Belisol
+ 9'42
15
Steve Chainel
Ag2r - La Mondiale
s.t.
16
Tom Boonen
Telenet Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
17
Stijn Vandenbergh
Telenet Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
18
Johan Le Bon
Team Giant - Allianz
+ 12'11
19
Taylor Phinney
BMC Racing Team
+ 17'14
20
Sylvain Chavanel
IAM Cycling
s.t.
21
Tom Leezer
Belkin Pro Cycling
s.t.
22
Alexander Kristoff
Katusha Team
s.t.
23
Jürgen Roelandts
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
24
John Degenkolb
Team Giant - Allianz
s.t.
25
Ramon Sinkeldam
Team Giant - Allianz
s.t.
26
Tony Gallopin
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
27
Louis Verhelst
Cofidis Solutions Crédits
s.t.
28
Dominique Rollin
Équipe Cycliste FDJ.fr
s.t.
29
Nick Nuyens
Garmin-Sharp
s.t.
30
Jan Ghyselinck
Accent.Jobs - Wanty
s.t.
31
Grégory Rast
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
32
Johan Vansummeren
Garmin-Sharp
+ 18'10
33
Bob Jungels
Trek Factory Racing
+ 18'52
34
Heinrich Haussler
IAM Cycling
s.t.
35
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
36
Maarten Tjallingii
Belkin Pro Cycling
+ 22'50
37
Lloyd Mondory
Ag2r - La Mondiale
s.t.
38
Fabian Cancellara
Trek Factory Racing
+ 24'07
39
Tom Scully
Orica - GreenEDGE
+ 26'34
40
Björn Leukemans
Accent.Jobs - Wanty
s.t.
41
Dylan Groenewegen
CyclingTeam Philips
+ 28'11
42
Vincent Jérôme
Team Europcar
s.t.
Only 42 riders managed to arrive in the time limits, this is not many. I'm really happy with my 13th position as every rider in front of me in the classification was clearly stronger. The doctors did not find anything wrong so by Tuesday morning I was off the hospital, I was also authorized to ride the Amstel Gold Race on Sunday.
The cobbled season is now over for me and logically I shall make a break after Liège - Bastogne - Liège.
No tweet today sorry.
Anthony Louveille.
As I said at the beginning of the past, I will make an interview of Anthony after Liège - Bastogne - Liège., if you have any question you'd like Anthony to answer, feel free to send them to me by PM.
Thanks.
@SS2JLuigi: Yep but he was a lot stronger and the race was a lot harder in the game
@sutty68: thanks, I'm really proud of my victory
Before going to the Ardennes, I wanted to make a recap on what happened to me i this 3 months and a half, I'm still not realizing that there are now three monuments missing to my list of achievement at only 22 years old. Winning Il Lombardia last season was a huge step in my career but, winning The Ronde van Vlaanderen was and still is hard to believe. I had a perfect preparation and I managed to win the race without being of of strongest rider. I want now to confirm this victory but I'm sure I can already say that my career is going on perfectly.
Here is quick recap of my results from the start of my career to today :
Victories
2013
Le Samyn (1.1) Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen (2.HC) Nokere - Koerse (1.1) Paris - Camembert (1.1) Tro-Bro Leon (1.1) Grand Prix de Plumelec - Morbihan (1.1) Châteauroux Classic de l'Indre Trophée Fenioux (1.1)
2014
Le Samyn (1.1) Nokere - Koerse (1.1) Classic Loire Atlantique (1.1) Paris - Camembert (1.1) Tour du Finistère (1.1) Tro-Bro Leon (1.1) Les 4 Jours de Dunkerque (2.HC) Tour du Doubs - Conseil Général (1.1)
2015
Eneco Tour (2.WT) Vattenfall Cyclassics (1.WT) GP Ouest France - Plouay (1.WT) Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal (1.WT) Il Lombardia (1.WT)
2016
Ronde van Vlaanderen (1.WT)
2nd Position
2013
Grand Prix de Denain Porte du Hainaut (1.1) Tour du Doubs - Conseil Général (1.1)
2014
Cholet - Pays de Loire (1.1)
2015
Tour de Pologne (2.WT) Grand Prix Cycliste de Quebec (1.WT) Giro del Piemonte (1.HC)
2016
3rd Position
2013
Classic Loire Atlantique (1.1) Circuit Cycliste Sarthe - Pays de la Loire (2.1)
2014
Grand Prix de Denain Porte du Hainaut (1.1) Eneco Tour (2.WT) GP Ouest France - Plouay (1.WT) Tour de Vendée (1.HC)
2015
2016
E3 Prijs Vlaanderen - Harelbeke (1.WT)
Top 5
2013
Tour du Finistère (1.1) Tour de Picardie (2.1) Boucles de l'Aulne - Châteaulin (1.1)
2014
Grand Prix La Marseillaise (1.1) Châteauroux Classic de l'Indre Trophée Fenioux (1.1)
2015
2016
Top 10
2013
Route Adélie de Vitré (1.1) Les 4 Jours de Dunkerque (2.HC) La Polynormande (1.1) Ride London Classic (1.1) Eneco Tour (2.WT) Paris - Bruxelles (1.HC) GP de Fourmies / La Voix du Nord (1.HC)
2014
Route Adélie de Vitré (1.1) Ronde van Vlaanderen (1.WT) Shelderprijs (1.HC) Grand Prix de Plumelec - Morbihan (1.1) Halle - Ingooigem (1.1) Championnats de France (NC) Tour de Wallonie (2.HC) La Polynormande (1.1) Ride London Classic (1.1) GP de Fourmies / La Voix du Nord (1.HC) Grand Prix de la Somme (1.1) Omloop van het Houtland Lichtervelde (1.1)
2015
Paris - Bruxelles (1.HC) Milano - Torino (1.HC)
2016
Trofeo Laigueglia (1.1) Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne (1.1) GP Nobili Rubinetterie (1.1) Dwars door Vlaanderen (1.HC) Schelerprijs (1.HC)
By looking at these results I must say that I was not expecting that much at that time of career. And here are my results in the monuments;
Anthony Louveille.
I will make an interview of Anthony after Liège - Bastogne - Liège. If you have any question you'd like Anthony to answer, feel free to send them to me by PM.
Thanks.
and Preidler deserved that victory 
GP Nobili Rubinetterie - Coppa Papà Carlo 
PEP), Telenet Pro Cycling Team for Mark Cavendish (
TEL) and Katusha Team for Alexander Kristoff (
KAT). 
BMC) and Sep Vanmarcke (
TFR) was absent due to bad injury he had in the early races of the season, Trek Factory riders were free to attack and to do "what they wanted". This is why we saw a combined attack of Jasper Stuyven (
TFR). The french rider Damien Gaudin (
TEL) at the front of the group. A group formed by Peter Sagan (
Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 
Certainly didn't expect that
Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal (1.WT)
