My biggest worry of the day was surviving that final, short hill.
Fortunately and thanks to Jonas Vangenechten, I did, and I found myself in the perfect position for the sprint, right behind Jonas, Hushovd, Degenkolb and Veelers. I was in excellent form, so this could be just my day! Still waiting for that first professional victory, maybe my waiting days are over?
In the sprint Hushovd rode like a madman and I got stuck to the side in the wheel of Degenkolb. I got out of it and started my real sprint, I went looking for Hushovd, who was still going strong!
I came closer and close!
However, I never came close enough. I ended up on the 2nd place, what a bummer! And it’s always Hushovd who seems to be one step ahead of me. Still, it's a great result, I'm in front of the likes of Degenkolb, Veelers... How great is that! Yet I'm still waiting for that first victory. Today I was so close I could smell it. Next time might be my turn to shine, who knows, tomorrow is yet another day!
Well, this is as flat as they come. And seeing there are only 120km to ride, everyone will be quite fresh, a pure sprint. Although the wind (we're riding along the shore for quite a while) could get in the way of many a rider!
To my surprise I was almost out of the running just 15km before the finish! Almost blown away by the strong wind, I had a hard time staying up front. But I made it and this time I went looking for the wheel of Degenkolb, which wasn't easy to take!
A crash happened behind me, but I was too preoccupied with the sprint to notice it, I only heard after the race. Luckily, nobody of Lotto - Belisol was a part of it, and because of the 2km rule, nobody lost any time.
The sprint was off, and it felt like flying. I passed Degenkolb with a speed I never thought to be possible, and as an enthusiastic neopro I raised my hands high as I cried out victory. However, I wanted to be sure of the win, so I raised my hands a bit late, causing a somewhat strange picture. Somehow I still think it's the best picture of me yet...
My first victory as a pro, this is incredible. I even took the young jersey, with mixed feelings (as I took it away from Eric). He assured me it's not a problem, though, we'll battle for it in the final time trial, he said, jokingly.
See you later today for the time trial!
The second part of the day brings us a flat time trial of just over 11km. Both of us are in the top 10, and we wish to stay there!
Though with riders as Thomas and Hushovd, excellent time trial riders, it might not be so easy.
Eric Lombaerts
I had a bad start today, but I eventually found a better pace and I ended on a 7th place, fairly well, I think!
In the GC I ended 5th, a beautiful place, I believe!
Stijn Van Gent
A funny thing, I rode 1 second faster than Eric, which got me a 6th place here.
Don't let the green jersey mislead you, I'm only second in running there, and after the time trial I remained second.
This the top 10 of the final stage (TT)
Spoiler
1
Thor Hushovd
BMC Racing Team
15'35
2
Geraint Thomas
Sky Pro Cycling
+ 5
3
Bert Grabsch
Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team
+ 13
4
Joost Posthuma
Radioshack Nissan Trek
+ 14
5
Taylor Phinney
BMC Racing Team
+ 17
6
Stijn Van Gent
Lotto-Belisol
+ 22
7
Eric Lombaerts
Lotto-Belisol
+ 23
8
Manuele Boaro
Team Saxo Bank
+ 24
9
Julien Vermote
Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team
+ 25
10
Jos Van Emden
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 30
In the GC I moved up to a 3rd place, also taking home the white jersey and now that is really excellent!
I can look back on these three days in De Panne Koksijde with an enormously grateful and happy feeling. I have conquered my first jersey here, the young jersey, in beautiful white, I have won my first professional victory here, in a blood-thrilling sprint and I ended up on the third place.
Both Eric and I did well, and racing here together, sharing a room and both being in the top 5 makes it even more perfect!
I believe this was the best preparation for the Ronde Van Vlaanderen I could ever have,
You give my something to do after work: reading your reports No seriously, I like your story very much, imo it's the best of the moment. keep up the great work and crush everyone in the "Vlaanderens mooiste".
Winners never quit, quitters never win.
It's difficult not to be happy when you're surrounded by Belgians. - Mark Cavendish
PCM rulezz wrote:
You give my something to do after work: reading your reports No seriously, I like your story very much, imo it's the best of the moment. keep up the great work and crush everyone in the "Vlaanderens mooiste".
Thank you very much, that comment really made my day
Vlaanderen will be posted either later this evening or tomorrow morning. But since this is one of the most important races of Stijn, it's a longer report than other races, so it takes a little more time
I hope it'll be worth the time!
Today was one of the most important dates on my calendar, along with Paris - Roubaix. All I have done before today (including winning a race and riding podium in Gent - Wevelgem) was just a big warm-up for the most nervous race of the year. Roelandts didn't seem in a good shape, based on the last few races, but maybe he came about just in time for this race on his own soil. Let's take a look at the profile, because nobody is familiar with this new RvV:
Well, the highlight was definitely Oude Kwaremont followed by the Paterberg, which had to be done 3 times. Tough, steep little things, let me tell you that! After what seemed like an eternity, the race finally started...
Bille attacked like a madman and opened the race, good publicity for Lotto. This was one of those rare races where the breakaway was gone in an instant. The first one was the good one, and having a man with them gave us the edge over other teams.
This was the breakaway.
The weather was bad and there would be many falls and flat tires today, some of the wounded: Boasson Hagen, Leezer and many more.
Cancellara was acting like he was possessed, he rode away with more than 100km still to go. He used the chaos of flat tires to get away with a small group.
So along with some people from Sky and Vacansoleil we went after him.
Everything came back together into a peloton of about 37 riders.
This is the peloton on the Oude Kwaremont (first time)
The next interesting thing happened on the next visit on the Kwaremont, where Cancellara and Boonen rode away. Roelandts was incredibly close at being with them. He came up the hill only 2 meters behind, but then the wind hit him hard and he was just short a bit of energy. The outcome would've been much different had he been in Boonen's wheel at the top of the Kwaremont.
So the two greatest cobblestone riders were gone together. Many riders didn't know what to do: ride for 3th place or work together to catch them?
After a momentarily hesitation, some riders decided to work together. As they weren't entirely gone yet. The wind would be our greatest ally.
But then Boonen had a flat one! Cancellara didn't wait and went on the greatest solo endeavor of the year.
But chaos remained and on top of the Kwaremont, I suddenly found myself with Nuyens en Leukemans. We had made a gap of about 10 seconds, and we couldn't hesitate any more, as Ballan had already fled moments earlier as well. So it was us 3 against Cancellara (who rode solo) and Boonen and Ballan (who had found each other and worked together)
Spartacus had conquered Vlaanderen, but there were still some prices to win for the rest of us.
I was thinking so much about a podium place that I wanted to save myself for the sprint, thinking that Nuyens and Leukemans would get Boonen and Ballan back. I feel really bad about that now, because I realize I didn't ride with them that much, I took over maybe once or twice, but no more than that. That's a mistake I made, of being a foul rider.
We didn't catch the two in front of us and they fought our their own battle. Boonen came in second and Ballan third.
And in spite of saving myself for the sprint, I allowed myself to be surprised by a genius, tactical sprint by Leukemans. I finished fifth, both proud of this great place and ashamed of the way I had earned it.
Just to give you an idea of how hard the race was: Only 62 riders finished the race (with Flecha as 62th). 2 of those riders were of the Lotto team. Besides me (5th) and Roelandts (9th), there was no one from the team that survived today's journey.
Awesome win, and a great result in De Ronde. It's hard to judge if you're over or underperforming, since there are no stats, but still terrifically done.
Yeah, he was wrong not to work with them, but he's still young, he'll learn
Paris - Roubaix is done, but I'm on my laptop now and the report is on my computer to it'll be uploaded tomorrow morning! Hopefully you all still like Stijn after his stupidity
and otherwise the Giro is getting closer, where Lombaerts will be more important!
Can't wait for P-R, will be hard to beat Fabian. But maybe he will have a flat this time
Sometimes, young riders make a mistake but that's how they learn things.
Winners never quit, quitters never win.
It's difficult not to be happy when you're surrounded by Belgians. - Mark Cavendish
By the time you're back from work this evening, it'll probably by uploaded
I agree, just look at Sagan, he was a bit cocky (why shouldn't he, he's a 22 year old boy/man and he's one of the best in the world, he's winning in TDF!), but he's worked on his attitude, and he's getting better at it
Ian Butler wrote:
By the time you're back from work this evening, it'll probably by uploaded
I agree, just look at Sagan, he was a bit cocky (why shouldn't he, he's a 22 year old boy/man and he's one of the best in the world, he's winning in TDF!), but he's worked on his attitude, and he's getting better at it
I can't wait until I'm back from work you are right about Sagan, i hope Stijn will can do the same and become as good as Sagan
Winners never quit, quitters never win.
It's difficult not to be happy when you're surrounded by Belgians. - Mark Cavendish
One week after my incredible result in the Ronde, I was ready for an even better result in Roubaix. Was it possible to top my latest achievement, or was it Roelandts' time to shine? The route of today took us from Paris to Roubaix over 27 cobbled sections. Big favorite: Ronde winner Fabian Cancellara.
This time I was given a possible co-leader role, depending on how the race went. Lars Bak was given the order to protect me, while Willems protected Roelandts.
It was a strange day, as no man got away from the pack. Sky continued to lay down a hard pace, and reel in everyone who dared to attack. It was after the first cobbled section that the first real attack came, and not from the least: Peter Sagan tried to get away halfway to Roubaix. Clearly he wanted the Velodrome all for himself.
A couple of kilometers later I nearly fell. I was drinking when we suddenly entered a cobbled section, what a rookie mistake!
Of course, today we saw many falls, just like in the Ronde. Bennett was one of the victims of the road.
After some hard sections, the peloton consisted out of 110 riders. Lotto still had many riders left, and I must congratulate Willems on his race, he was in the shape of his life as he protected Roelandts perfectly!
With 55km left to go, Cancellara and Flecha rode away, I'd never seen anyone ride that fast on cobblestones before.
Roelandts was racing excellently, all the doubts about him were unnecessary, this is a rider with class, style and talent. He remained at the front of the race constantly.
I, on the other hand, had lost my form I had in the Ronde. It was tough seeing the group with Roelandts ride away, not able to be any faster.
By then, Cancellara and Flecha had been reeled in and a group of 16 was riding towards the velodrome together.
Between that group and the group I was in was Nick Nuyens. The group I was in was a bit too slow to my liking and I decided to ride away on the next cobblestone section, which I successfully did. The hunt for Nuyens was on!
That's me, right above Nuyens' left shoulder
I came closer, then I'd lose some time, then I'd come closer again, it was a tough and exciting battle. Clearly Nuyens didn't want to ride with me again after the Ronde, that's my own fault. He stayed a dot to me. However, near the end of the race, I kept coming closer and closer. Nuyens helped me a lot in a way because I always had someone in my vision, someone to chase. If I hadn't, I might've been caught by a small group chasing me (Pozzato, Hushovd, Eisel...) I was glad to hear I was riding away from them, rather than losing ground. I was riding for place 17, that much was sure!
Meanwhile a group of 5 tried to break away at the front. Their names: Ballan, Cancellara, Flecha, Vanmarcke, Boonen.
Many tactical attacks followed and eventually it was Boonen who won! This victory is well deserved.
Roelandts rode an excellent race, winning the sprint for the 6th place!
Although this was my first time in the Velodrome, I didn't have time to enjoy the view, or the impressiveness of the enormous crowd. I was still preoccupied with Nuyens, He was not far ahead of me now!
But my sprint wasn't enough. Nuyens had raced an excellent finale, and I had to be happy with an 18th place. Only 81 riders finished the race.
Nuyens crossing the finish line with me sprinting hopelessly in the background.
Well, what can I say? I think I did well, considering this is my debut at the cobblestone classics. I think I can start dreaming of a victory in the Ronde, in Roubaix, or elsewhere. Although I have made some mistakes, I am confident that the experience will teach me how to be an even better man, both on and off the bike.
Roelandts has peeked excellently for today, while I might've peeked a little early. But with a 5th place in the Ronde, I'm not complaining! This has been one hell (not of the north) of an adventure, and tonight I will go to bed satisfied.
Tomorrow the entire team for the Giro will leave on a training camp in Italy. After the camp we start at the preparation races for the Giro. Although I am very tired, I want to perform well there, but Eric will be the rider to really look for there! With a top 10 in Tirreno already in his pocket, I think he's out to enrich his palmares even more.
Edited by Ian Butler on 08-08-2012 12:12
Today is the 16th of April and we are busy training every day. Tomorrow will be another test for the team, as we start in the stage race of 4 days: Giro del Trentino, a monstrous race with a time trial and 3 mountain stages. A good preparation for the big Giro. We've been moving around a bit and two days ago we were are Cervinia (riding the finale of the Giro-stage to Cervinia) and take a look at that:
Isn't that just beautiful? It's so great riding here.
Stijn has not been riding his best, I think he's still somewhat burned out from the tough and long cobbled season. I think it's important that he finds some rest before the Giro starts, maybe he shouldn't ride Trentino, but we'll see.
In other news: Gilbert won the Amstel Gold Race, Jelle Vanendert came in second! It looks like the apprentice is ready to take on the master.
But judging the finish photo, it won't be too soon, what a strong rider, Phil!
Stijn Van Gent
It's me again, your host of the cobbled season. I'm still pretty tired from those races, I really gave it my everything. I hope I can get even better results next year, but that's for later.
Right now I'm focused on the first, flat stages of the Giro. I hope I can do well there.
I heard rumors that De Gendt will start at the Giro, also Froome. Those are some mighty riders, I hope Eric can learn something from them!
So we'll start in Trentino soon. For obvious reasons these reports will be much more limited than the one for example of the Ronde.
No seriously, I like your story very much, imo it's the best of the moment. keep up the great work and crush everyone in the "Vlaanderens mooiste".
Awesome win, and a great result in De Ronde. It's hard to judge if you're over or underperforming, since there are no stats, but still terrifically done.
