In other news: Age has finally brought down Jens Voigt. The one who seemed untouchable by the world's cycle around the sun finally announced his retirement. He will race his final race in October.
In other news: Marcel Kittel still hasn't scored any victory so far this year. There is a lot of speculation around him. I haven't seen him a lot so I don't really know myself. Let's hope he can get better soon.
Stijn Van Gent
Paris - Roubaix
The big day has arrived. My second Paris - Roubaix, my first as a leader. I was ready for it! Last year, Cancellara took the win, this year there were other riders looking for the win, though!
Unfortunately for me, we saw not a drop of rain today. Temperatures of +10°C, what a difference from the Ronde! Not in my advantage.
Because of the weather, there weren't any real attacks for a very long time. Instead there was an extremely hard pace and it was a real elimination race.
Boom still felt the fall from the Ronde and couldn't keep up. Vansummeren had an absolute top day and was able to find us again.
I was quite alright. But as soon as the attacks started, my energy drained completely. I guess my lack of experience really did it today, I wasted too much energy too far from the finish, trying to reduce the group. I made the pace every once in a while, and it was taking its toll.
The same three as last year were the strongest once again. There is no taming these guys: Boonen, Cancellara, Breschel.
Then it was waiting for the velodrome! Who would be first?
First we had Boonen and Cancellara
Breschel followed
Vansummeren was in a fourth position...
... followed closely by Ballan and myself.
Boonen was indestructible and the World Champion wins Paris - Roubaix 2013, getting next to Roger De Vlaeminck in his Roubaix records!
I outsprinted Ballan for the fifth place!
Well, this is great! I really deserved this place today, I wasn't good enough for the podium, but fifth is just excellent!
It's been a great season so far for the both of us individually, but not so great for the sprinters on this team. Marcel Kittel has not performed well and looks a bit in trouble. Degenkolb had some good results, but it's still waiting for the great results. We look back on January - April 2013
Willy Wouters
The season couldn't have started better for me. After a great race in Mallorca, where I beat Schleck and Gilbert, I went on to win Tirreno - Adriatico. I admit I had some luck in the progress, but in the end I did what I had to do and I took the win home. I have three real goals left this season: Tour de France, National TT and getting the WC selection!
Stijn Van Gent
I kicked off the season well with a stage win in Argentina, then it was waiting for the cobbled season. Besides the opening weekend I didn't have any extremely great results, but looking at all the places, it's fair to say I've become a major game player in the Classics. I've raced a very constant season so far, and that's much more valuable then getting one great result and failing in the other races.
Omloop
K-B-K
M - SR
E3
GW
RvV
PR
2012
21th
28th
DNE
17th
19th
15th
19th
2013
2nd
5th
6th
9th
4th
7th
5th
I've finished all top 10, which is an amazing achievement on itself. With a second place in the Omloop and a fifth in Roubaix, I've really confirmed myself, I think. Next year I'll be aiming for some more podiums and maybe even a win.
Some reactions from Roubaix and the early season in general:
Tom Boonen (winner of Paris - Roubaix, Kuurne - Brussel - Kuurne, Gent - Wevelgem): I had a good winter and that surely payed off. I don't know how much longer I will keep riding on this level, but I hope to race another few years among the top. Roubaix was definitely the highlight. An old-time one-on-one battle with Cancellara, winning in the rainbow jersey, there's nothing like it.
Matti Breschel: I had a pretty good season so far, but I reached my form peek a week too late. Luckily I was there for Roubaix and that third place was the highest reachable with Boonen and Cancellara in a different class.
Jurgen Roelandts: I can look back on the cobbled season happily. I got some good results, especially 8th in Roubaix. Maybe next year can be my time.
Stijn Van Gent: Finishing 5th here is almost like a dream coming true. I'm still very young so it's important I can build up experience already. In a few years, I might start here to win!
We're on a little break now, we'll be back for Tour de Picardie. I will be sprinting for myself after all, since Kittel will not be participating after all. So I won't have to work for him until the Tour, where I really hope to get him a stage win!
Stijn
dienblad - Thanks, let's hope so. If he can develop just a little bit more, I can even see him winning a cobbled race next year. Though he'll need some luck, too. Maybe one of the early, Omloop or Kuurne!
rogvi97 - That I didn't know, thanks Time for Willy to put Belgium back on the map
I didn't have to do much. Just a race to keep the legs warm, I call it. I was in the breakaway of stage 2.
Stijn Van Gent
Despite my great cobbled season, I've been doubting lately. It's been since Strade Bianchi that I've had a win. As a (semi-)sprinter, it's never fun to be long without a win. Competitors here: Soupe, Petit, Fernandez...
Stage 1
Last year, Keukeleire won here, in front of Kittel.
It's been a while since I've raced competitively, so it takes some getting used to. In my first sprint, I'm third. I can live with that.
Stage 2
A head on head sprint with Petit.
He was strong and I wasn't, it's that simple. Two stages out of three and no win yet.
Stage 3
A big fall in the peloton near the finish, but I was in front so I was all right. Though Wegmann took a nasty fall, he barely finished the race.
I had been third on the first day, but it was the first race in a while, so that's all right.
I had been second on the second day. I could win but I already did better than the first day, that's all right.
But no more excuses. Today I had to win. I launched my sprint quite early and I'm proud to say I destroyed the field today! The narrow roads worked in my advantage.
Of course, the relief was great. I'm still a sprinter after all! I'm looking forward to The National Road Race now, where the sprint will probably decide the winner!
Young Rider: Stijn Van Gent Best Team: Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team
Well, I return home a happy man, that's for sure. At first it looked like I was looking at a victory-less race, but in the end I overtook all major classifications here. I'm glad, but sceptic. These sprinters aren't the absolute top, so I still need a lot, a lot of work. Though my form was quite low, so I have to take that into consideration.
Congrats on your results lately. Picardie is a nice win, but the strong and especially consistent results in the classics are even more impressive. I don't think that Stijn is in a position to challenge Boonen and Cancellara yet, but in 1-2 years, his time will come, I'm sure
