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aCross the road: Mud, Sweat & Gears
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| sammyt93 |
Posted on 24-04-2014 00:04
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Classics Specialist
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Shonak wrote:
@sutty68: Yeah, he started season great. Thanks to Tour of Britain and Italian Fall classics. 
@sammyt: That's certainly a long term goal to make him in both regaining World Champion, however before we can get to that he will have to win a CX race first. 
There's no reason the world's can't be his first CX win, especially if he is constantly just missing out and does so to hit back at the Tifosi that would be getting on his back by that point.
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| Ad Bot |
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| Shonak |
Posted on 24-04-2014 08:58
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
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Bpost Bank Trofee Oudenaarde / Koppenberg
Kevin Pauwels: Now the true champion of Belgium
And Pauwels, current Belgian champion, accomplished this feat by outsprinting Sven Nys after suffering through the rain, mud & pave at Koppenberg. It’s probably the toughest CX race of the season, and after I missed it last year, there was no chance I’d miss it again. I finished on 7th place, the first non-belgian in the results. Noteworthy is particularly 4th place Wout Van Aert, an incredible young Belgian talent, who has already won the CX World Championships U23. He is surely one to watch out for the future and is set to win this race once in a couple of years.
The race started awfully and it ended in pain and suffering. I love it, and it was raced to the limits. Although many international stars of CX were missing, three of the big names were of course included on the start list: Sven Nys, Niels Albert and Kevin Pauwels. Despite early efforts from some insane spirits on the Koppenberg, Nys, Albert and Pauwels prevailed lap for lap and maintained always at the front. I know from my pave experience that keeping at front is a crucial part. Sven Nys punctured once early on, but he was quick to get back.
When the rain kicked in, the pain got real tough. Here on the 1st November in Belgium, it’s just the truest art of cycling when you have to dig yourself into the threshes and hold out for a few sparks of power and lighting. I was grinding my teeth at the constant pace changes. Each downhill of the Koppenberg demanded more and more until even those short descents started to break me mentally. Holding up with their pace was the most difficult thing you can imagine.
And I must admit, I was relieved when I was dropped and when I could finally ride my own race. I put in my legs. I passed some riders, I got passed by others and passed them later again. I am used to pave and cobblestones. I know Ronde, Omloop and Dwars. I know the Hell of the North. But dealing with an overload of 10 times Koppenberg in the competitive manner of CX: Nobody can prepare you for that.
Impressions
Bpost Bank Trofee - Oudenaarde / Koppenberg
| Rank | Name | Team | Time | | 1 | Kevin Pauwels | Sunweb - Napoleon Games | 3h26'15 | | 2 | Sven Nys | Crelan- Euphony | s.t. | | 3 | Niels Albert | BKCP - Powerplus | s.t. | | 4 | Wout Van Aert | Enertherm - BKCP | + 46 | | 5 | Bart Aernouts | AA Drink - Leontien.nl | s.t. | | 6 | Bart Wellens | Telenet - Fidea | + 1'51 | | 7 | Raphael Visconti | Cannondale Cyclocross World | + 2'20 | | 8 | Thijs Van Amerongen | AA Drink - Leontien.nl | + 3'52 | | 9 | Jiri Polnicky | Sunweb - Napoleon Games | + 7'08 | | 10 | Kenneth Van Compernolle | Style & Concept | s.t. |
Spoiler | 11 | Jelle Cant | Melbotech Cycling Team | + 7'50 | | 12 | Tom Meeusen | Telenet - Fidea | + 10'02 | | 13 | Klaas Vantornout | Sunweb - Napoleon Games | + 10'39 | | 14 | Sven Vanthourenhout | Crelan- Euphony | + 12'05 | | 15 | Michael Vanthourenhout | Sunweb - Napoleon Games | s.t. | | 16 | Rob Peeters | Telenet - Fidea | s.t. | | 17 | Dieter Vanthourenhout | BKCP - Powerplus | s.t. | | 18 | Martin Zlamalik | Crelan- Euphony | s.t. | | 19 | Wietse Bosmans | BKCP - Powerplus | + 12'58 | | 20 | Gianni Vermeersch | BKCP - Powerplus | + 13'19 | | 21 | Eddy Van Ijzerdoorn | Orange Babies | s.t. | | 22 | Micki Van Empel | Crelan- Euphony | s.t. | | 23 | Gerben De Knegt | Orange Babies | + 13'46 | | 24 | Mathieu Boulo | Roubaix Lille Métropole | + 14'07 | | 25 | Gianni Denolf | Baboco | + 14'33 | | 26 | Joeri Hofman | Crelan- Euphony | s.t. | | 27 | Ben Berden | Belgium | s.t. | | 28 | Quinten Bertholet | Belgium | s.t. | | 29 | Patrick Van Leeuwen | Orange Babies | s.t. | | 30 | Joeri Adams | Telenet - Fidea | s.t. | | 31 | Angelo De Clerq | Sunweb - Napoleon Games | s.t. | | 32 | Sascha Weber | Stevens Racing Team | s.t. | | 33 | Kevin Cant | Melbotech Cycling Team | s.t. | | 34 | Johannes Sickmueller | Feenstra - Stevens | + 15'52 | | 35 | Sven Beelen | Melbotech Cycling Team | s.t. | | 36 | Twan Van Den Brand | Orange Babies | s.t. | | 37 | Stef Boden | Melbotech Cycling Team | s.t. | | 38 | Xandro Meurisse | Baboco | s.t. | | 39 | Kristof Cop | Belgium | s.t. | | 40 | Patrick Gaudy | Belgium | s.t. | | 41 | Thijs Al | Telenet - Fidea | s.t. | | 42 | Ritchie Denolf | Baboco | s.t. | | 43 | Bjorn Rondelez | Belgium | + 16'24 |
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 24-04-2014 09:15
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
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Way to go Raphael  first non-Belgian on the Koppenberg!
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 24-04-2014 12:37
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Another good performance from Raphael , surely that win is just around the corner |
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| Shonak |
Posted on 24-04-2014 14:00
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
PCM$: 350.00
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Thanks guys.
@Ian Butler: Yup, but too bad there are so many fantastic belgians in CX.
@sutty68: Your optimism is unbreakable, mate.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 24-04-2014 14:51
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World Champion
Posts: 14563
Joined: 08-08-2011
PCM$: 9100.00
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Was expecting a lot from this one, slightly disappointed in Rapha to be honest
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| baia |
Posted on 24-04-2014 15:42
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 5398
Joined: 04-10-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Not bad.. Raphael will be back to the wins soon..
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| Shonak |
Posted on 24-04-2014 17:45
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
PCM$: 350.00
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@Ollfardh: Actually, I think his CBS stats are a bit too low, compared to what he has accomplished already in Flanders classics and at Eneco Tour. I had hoped for a bit more too, but extreme difficulty bested me here. 
@baia: Yeah, he needs that road racing winning streak and once that's here, I hope they come plenty.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Shonak |
Posted on 24-04-2014 18:18
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
PCM$: 350.00
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I have missed my the first Superprestige race of the season, Ruddervoorde, but I’m here for the pit of Zonhoven.
Superprestige Zonhoven
Brave solo-effort from Visconti remains unrewarded as Albert takes the win
Out of a group of 8 riders who contested for the victory, Niels Albert had the fastest legs in Zonhoven and claimed yet another early season win. The current World Champion takes now the lead of the Superprestige classement. Nys and Meeusen finish as runner-ups
I tried my luck in the pit of Zonhoven and I went onto the attack in one of the earlier parts of the race. It’s a steep gradient that one has to take on, and I may have tried it one or two laps too early. Getting over there cost me dearly over time and I struggled later on to maintain the pace. Still, the pit had a fantastic atmosphere and if I hadn’t been racing here for the win, I could have enjoyed it even more. My form is shaping up nicely and I had some good races so far, Zonhoven was a step in the right direction once more as I got back that sensation to win at all cost.
In that regard, I was focused and I had great legs, but alas, eventually they came back up to me. After such a solo-effort, I wasn’t able to sprint with them competitively though and I finished last in the group, definitely breathing the heaviest at that point.
Impressions
Superprestige Zonhoven, Results
| Rank | Name | Team | Time | | 1 | Niels Albert | BKCP - Powerplus | 3h40'56 | | 2 | Sven Nys | Crelan- Euphony | s.t. | | 3 | Tom Meeusen | Telenet - Fidea | s.t. | | 4 | Kevin Pauwels | Sunweb - Napoleon Games | s.t. | | 5 | Lars Van Der Haar | Argos Shimano | s.t. | | 6 | Francis Mourey | FDJ - BigMat | s.t. | | 7 | Philipp Walsleben | BMC Mountainbike Racing Team | s.t. | | 8 | Raphael Visconti | Cannondale Cyclocross World | s.t. | | 9 | Bart Wellens | Telenet - Fidea | + 4'05 | | 10 | Michael Vanthourenhout | Sunweb - Napoleon Games | + 5'04 |
Spoiler | 11 | Bart Aernouts | AA Drink - Leontien.nl | s.t. | | 12 | Wietse Bosmans | BKCP - Powerplus | + 8'40 | | 13 | Dieter Vanthourenhout | BKCP - Powerplus | + 9'02 | | 14 | Thijs Van Amerongen | AA Drink - Leontien.nl | + 11'03 | | 15 | Martin Zlamalik | Crelan- Euphony | s.t. | | 16 | Julien Alaphilppe | Omega Pharma | s.t. | | 17 | Rob Peeters | Telenet - Fidea | s.t. | | 18 | Mariusz Gil | Kwadro - Stannah | s.t. | | 19 | Niels Wubben | Rabobank Giant Offroad | s.t. | | 20 | Gianni Vermeersch | BKCP - Powerplus | s.t. | | 21 | Jiri Polnicky | Sunweb - Napoleon Games | s.t. | | 22 | Arnold Jeannesson | FDJ - BigMat | s.t. | | 23 | Micki Van Empel | Crelan- Euphony | + 12'07 | | 24 | Mathieu Boulo | Roubaix Lille Métropole | s.t. | | 25 | Klaas Vantornout | Sunweb - Napoleon Games | + 14'50 | | 26 | Joeri Hofman | Crelan- Euphony | + 15'25 | | 27 | Thijs Al | Telenet - Fidea | + 16'07 | | 28 | Wout Van Aert | Enertherm - BKCP | s.t. | | 29 | Mathieu Van Der Poel | Rabobank Giant Offroad | s.t. | | 30 | Sven Vanthourenhout | Crelan- Euphony | s.t. | | 31 | Radomir Simunek | Kwadro - Stannah | + 17'17 | | 32 | Julien Taramarcz | BMC Mountainbike Racing Team | s.t. |
Superprestige Classement
| SP Rank | Name | SP Points | | 1 | Albert | 29 | | 2 | Pauwels | 27 | | 3 | Nys | 26 | | 4 | Meeusen | 26 | | 5 | Van der Haar | 21 | | 6 | Mourey | 19 | | 7 | Walsleben | 16 | | 8 | Vantornout | 11 | | 9 | Aernouts | 10 | | 10 | Visconti | 8 |
Spoiler | 11 | Alaphilippe | 6 | | 12 | M. Vanthourenhout | 6 | | 13 | Gil | 4 | | 14 | S. Vanthourenhout | 3 | | 15 | Peeters | 2 | | 16 | Van Amerongen | 2 | | 17 | Zlamalik | 1 | | 18 | Page | 1 |
@All: I enjoy reading those short CX reports more than the other, rather long-ish ones about road racing. I think about making those road racing reports more similair to the CX ones, good or bad idea?
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 24-04-2014 18:23
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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I like such reports indeed.
Maybe longer reports for the real big races? But in the end, it's your call.
Doesn't have to be long to be good |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 24-04-2014 20:55
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Come on Raphael, its time to deliver that win |
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| Shonak |
Posted on 24-04-2014 23:10
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
PCM$: 350.00
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@Ian: Yeah, I thought about making WC, Monuments and maybe one stage to bigger reports but keeping them slim and fast for future seasons. Maybe even a bit like Matt. For me, there's just a bit too much (time) emphasis on road racing, which is natural since it's offers a larger "world" and more stages.
@sutty68: Argh, don't push him. 
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| The Rider |
Posted on 24-04-2014 23:14
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4543
Joined: 29-02-2012
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All in all a great first season for Raphael. Interesting to see he his a rider which might be able to win in the Ardennes and Flanders at the same time. With Sagan jumping ship, the team may be candidates for relegation if Raphael doesn't perform. That would be a good scenario.
Really 'freaky' terrain in Zonhoven. After a year of tarmac this stuff looks other-worldly, a top 10 looks to be a hard fought result in that company! |
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| Shonak |
Posted on 25-04-2014 00:26
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
PCM$: 350.00
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Haha  . It really does look like some hostile alien world.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| Shonak |
Posted on 25-04-2014 14:58
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
Joined: 16-07-2013
PCM$: 350.00
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Superprestige Hamme-Zogge
Nys’ strikes back!
The season has not yet been particularly kind to Sven Nys, but today the Belgian superstar got his first major win of the season in Hamme-Zogge. A great solo-effort stunned his rivals as they were unable to follow his pace and anybody daring enough, had to pay the consequences.
This Superprestige wasn’t a race that’s particularly suited to my strengths, however it’s many, barely noticeable hills make for an unexpected race of energy-saving. Someone who didn’t save anything was Sven Nys, who really blasted through the trails and caused selection early on. That early part went completely by me; I had the worst legs of the campaign so far and dropped back position on position from the start.
Nys meanwhile continued to cause havoc up front there, anybody risky and daring enough to follow his pace, soon had to pay the price. This meant that actually several riders overdid themselves, maybe even blew up. Going full-throttle from the start is always dangerous in any discipline; this wisdom is valid in CX too. Because of the situation upfront, I slowly came back and when I started to reel in riders and pass them, I got a motivational and leg boost each time. I was down in the hole, and now I came flying back. Due to the events unfolded, I was then able to claim a 6th place. I am not sure where I would have been, had I followed Nys today.
Impressions
Superprestige Hamme-Zogge, Results
| Rank | Name | Team | Time | | 1 | Sven Nys | Crelan- Euphony | 2h30'10 | | 2 | Niels Albert | BKCP - Powerplus | + 52 | | 3 | Kevin Pauwels | Sunweb - Napoleon Games | + 1'22 | | 4 | Lars Van Der Haar | Argos Shimano | + 2'11 | | 5 | Tomas Novy | Cycklo Team Tabor | + 2'51 | | 6 | Raphael Visconti | Cannondale Cyclocross World | + 3'18 | | 7 | Tom Meeusen | Telenet - Fidea | + 4'52 | | 8 | Bart Wellens | Telenet - Fidea | + 5'14 | | 9 | Bart Aernouts | AA Drink - Leontien.nl | s.t. | | 10 | Francis Mourey | FDJ - BigMat | s.t. |
Spoiler | 11 | Philipp Walsleben | BMC Mountainbike Racing Team | s.t. | | 12 | Michael Vanthourenhout | Sunweb - Napoleon Games | s.t. | | 13 | Dieter Vanthourenhout | BKCP - Powerplus | s.t. | | 14 | Thijs Van Amerongen | AA Drink - Leontien.nl | s.t. | | 15 | Julien Alaphilppe | Omega Pharma | s.t. | | 16 | Rob Peeters | Telenet - Fidea | s.t. | | 17 | Boris Zimine | Roubaix Lille Métropole | s.t. | | 18 | Sven Vanthourenhout | Crelan- Euphony | s.t. | | 19 | Martin Zlamalik | Crelan- Euphony | s.t. | | 20 | Mathieu Van Der Poel | Rabobank Giant Offroad | s.t. | | 21 | Wietse Bosmans | BKCP - Powerplus | s.t. | | 22 | Quentin Jauregie | Enertherm - BKCP | s.t. | | 23 | Jiri Polnicky | Sunweb - Napoleon Games | + 6'21 | | 24 | Klaas Vantornout | Sunweb - Napoleon Games | + 11'18 | | 25 | Wout Van Aert | Enertherm - BKCP | + 12'21 | | 26 | Marcel Meisen | Kwadro - Stannah | + 12'56 | | 27 | Enrico Franzoi | Selle Italia - Guercotti | s.t. | | 28 | Eddy Van Ijzerdoorn | Orange Babies | s.t. | | 29 | Micki Van Empel | Crelan- Euphony | s.t. | | 30 | Mariusz Gil | Kwadro - Stannah | s.t. | | 31 | Roy Van Heeswijk | Orange Babies | s.t. | | 32 | Ian Field | Hargroves | s.t. | | 33 | Steve Chainel | FDJ - BigMat | s.t. | | 34 | Joeri Adams | Telenet - Fidea | s.t. | | 35 | Joeri Hofman | Crelan- Euphony | s.t. | | 36 | Arnold Jeannesson | FDJ - BigMat | s.t. | | 37 | Jose Antonio Hermida | Espagna | s.t. | | 38 | Martin Bina | Cycklo Team Tabor | s.t. | | 39 | Rafael Visinelli | Selle Italia - Guercotti | s.t. | | 40 | Gerben De Knegt | Orange Babies | s.t. | | 41 | Radomir Simunek | Kwadro - Stannah | s.t. | | 42 | Kenneth Van Compernolle | Style & Concept | s.t. | | 43 | Angelo De Clerq | Sunweb - Napoleon Games | s.t. | | 44 | Gianni Vermeersch | BKCP - Powerplus | s.t. | | 45 | Patrick Van Leeuwen | Orange Babies | s.t. | | 46 | Tom Van Den Bosch | Hargroves | s.t. | | 47 | Maxim Debusschere | Style & Concept | s.t. | | 48 | Niels Wubben | Rabobank Giant Offroad | s.t. | | 49 | Robert Gavenda | Argos Shimano | s.t. | | 50 | Marco Aurelio Fontana | Selle Italia - Guercotti | + 14'37 | | 51 | Sascha Weber | Stevens Racing Team | s.t. | | 52 | Javier Ibanez | Espagna | s.t. | | 53 | Gert-Jan Bosman | Rabobank Giant Offroad | s.t. | | 54 | Ondrej Bambula | Cycklo Team Tabor | s.t. | | 55 | Thijs Al | Telenet - Fidea | s.t. | | 56 | Mathieu Boulo | Roubaix Lille Métropole | s.t. | | 57 | Filip Eberl | Czech | + 15'12 | | 58 | Henk Jaap Moorlsag | Rabobank Giant Offroad | s.t. | | 59 | Julien Taramarcz | BMC Mountainbike Racing Team | s.t. | | 60 | Vladimir Kyzivat | Czech | s.t. | | 61 | Massimo Vanderaerden | DCM - GB Vorselaar | s.t. | | 62 | Jonathan Page | Planet Bike | s.t. | | 63 | Lukas Fluckiger | BMC Mountainbike Racing Team | s.t. | | 64 | Sascha Wagner | Stevens Racing Team | s.t. | | 65 | Matthias Van Den Keybus | Enertherm - BKCP | s.t. | | 66 | Matt Mcdonald | Hargroves | s.t. | | 67 | Tom Mertens | DCM - GB Vorselaar | s.t. | | 68 | Nicolas Scheire | Isorex Cycling Team | s.t. | | 69 | Mark Lalonde | Planet Bike | + 16'35 | | 70 | Jon Irastorza | Espagna | s.t. | | 71 | Julien Nys | BMC Mountainbike Racing Team | s.t. | | 72 | Tomas Paprstka | Czech | s.t. | | 73 | Timo Van Canegem | Isorex Cycling Team | s.t. |
Top 20 Superprestige Classement After 3 out of 8 Races
| 1 | Albert | 43 | | 2 | Nys | 41 | | 3 | Pauwels | 40 | | 4 | Meeusen | 35 | | 5 | Van der Haar | 33 | | 6 | Mourey | 25 | | 7 | Walsleben | 21 | | 8 | Visconti | 18 | | 9 | Aernouts | 16 | | 10 | Vantornout | 11 |
Spoiler | 11 | Novy | 11 | | 12 | M. Vanthourenhout | 10 | | 13 | Wellens | 8 | | 14 | Alaphilippe | 7 | | 15 | Gil | 4 | | 16 | Van Amerongen | 4 | | 17 | S. Vanthourenhout | 3 | | 18 | D. Vanthourenhout | 3 | | 19 | Peeters | 2 | | 20 | Zlamalik | 1 |
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| The Rider |
Posted on 25-04-2014 17:18
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4543
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A boss display by Nys there.
Raphael lost big time, but he no doubt felt great passing many riders in the latter half of the race. |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 25-04-2014 18:44
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
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Raphael did well to gab a ninth 6th place |
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| Shonak |
Posted on 26-04-2014 09:27
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 15615
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@The Rider: Yes, of course. It's always nice to pass riders that could/should be ahead of him. 
@sutty68: Thanks mate. I underestimated the early half a bit, but the second worked in Raphael's favor.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
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| YvesStevens |
Posted on 26-04-2014 10:15
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PCM$: 300.00
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Raphael will with these consistent performances maybe move into top 5 prestige ranking |
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| Vali |
Posted on 26-04-2014 10:16
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Domestique
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Raphael did good in the latest time |
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