94th Scheldeprijs Vlaanderen - 1.HC

Schoten, Belgium, April 12, 2006

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Images by Luc Claessen/www.ctm-images.com

Niko Eeckhout (Chocolade Jacques) marked by Servais Knaven (Quick.Step)
Mathew Hayman (Rabobank) was one of the 23 riders that escaped just 20 kilometres into the race, and rode at the service of their sprinter Graeme Brown.
The break was so far in front, by the time they arrived at the finishing circuits in Schoten, their lead was a massive 9'11.
The 23 man break work in an echelon.
Tom Boonen (Quick.Step-Innergetic) not afraid to do his share of the work.
Riders hit a pavé section, although far milder than what some experienced three days ago in Paris-Roubaix.
Stefan Cohnen (Naturino-Sapore di Mare) made a move off the front of the break with 22 kilometres to go, bravely holding off the Quick.Step train for roughly 15 kilometres.
The new blue train - Six Quick.Step men drive their fearless leader Tom Boonen in the final few kilometres.
A comfortable victory for Tom Boonen, who can now take off on his mid-season break on a winning note.
Yeah! And Steven De Jongh gets second. Woo-hoo!
Tom Boonen (Quick.Step-Innergetic) punches the air in front of his home crowd.
Tom Boonen (Quick.Step-Innergetic) celebrates on the podium
The podium - (L to R) Gert Steegmans (Davitamon-Lotto), Tom Boonen (Quick.Step-Innergetic) and Steven De Jongh (Quickstep-Innergetic).
That's our boy! Tom Boonen's grandparents are pretty happy about their grandson's achievements, too.

Images by Anthony Tan/Cyclingnews.com

No mistaking which part of Belgium you were in for today's Scheldeprijs Vlaanderen.
Flandrians are mad cycling fans, and here's the collectors' cards to prove it.
Tom Boonen (Quick.Step-Innergetic) happy to be taking his mid-season break starting today. First thing he'll do: buy a keg of beer.
Tom Boonen (Quick.Step-Innergetic) is perhaps the most honest guy in the peloton, always telling things how he saw them, and no different.

Images by Junko & Miwako Sasaki

Experienced Italian Roberto Petito (Tenax, R) with neo pro Claudio Cucinotta before the start.
Peter Van Petegem and Henk Vogels (Davitamon-Lotto) sign on
The final appearance of Peter Van Petegem for the first part of the season
Local hero Tom Boonen (Quick Step) starts in Anwerp.
Dude, where's my team camper? Antonio Quadranti (Naturino-Sapore di mare) waiting for his team camper after he stops the race in Schoten.
Tom Boonen (Quick Step) on the final lap in Schoten, following UCI Europe Tour leader Niko Eeckhout (Chocolade Jaques).
Dutchman Stefan Cohnen (Naturino-Sapore di Mare) the most aggressive rider of the final 22 riders, is interviewed by his local press after the race.
It's the first Belgian race this season for Italian Massimiliano Mori (Naturino-Sapore di mare), so 13th isn't so bad.
Tom Boonen (Quick Step) asks for bigger cheers from his huge numbers of supporters on the podium.
Tom Boonen (Quick Step) thanks his excellent teammate Steven De Jongh (2nd) on the podium.
Hey, Tommeke! What kind of trick are you thinking about now? Shaking that bottle so much?
Tom Boonen and Steven De Jongh (Quick Step) celebrate their win with a champagne shower.
Tommeke with his No.1 supporters: Oma and Opa! (grandmother and grandfather)

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Anthony Tan/Cyclingnews.com

The start of the 94th Scheldeprijs was conducted at Antwerp's Grote Markt. The temperature was surprisingly warm for this April day in Belgium - not that we were complaining!
Riders at the sign on in Antwerp's Grote Markt.
Miss Belgium (C, back) was happy to greet the riders on stage as they signed in. The riders were equally happy to be greeted.
The imposing start banner 15 mins before the start, soon to be swamped with cyclists underneath it.
Baden Cooke (Unibet.com) is hoping for a bunch sprint today, and is good form after finishing 17th in last Sunday's Paris-Roubaix.
David O'Louglin (Navigators Insurance) is hoping his luck does an about turn sometime soon, with his team counting on their sprinters Oleg Grisckine and Hilton Clarke should the race come down to a bunch gallop.
And they're off in the 94th Scheldeprijs Vlaanderen. Oh - and there's Tom Boonen over in the far left, riding his last race before taking a well earned break in Tasmania. That last part was a joke.