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68th Gent-Wevelgem - PT
Belgium, April 5, 2006
Main page Map Start List Results
Commentary by Jeff Jones, with additional reporting from Brecht Decaluwé
Live report
Live coverage starts: 14:30 CEST
Estimated finish: 16:30 CEST
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14:17 CEST
Welcome back to sunny (I am not lying)
Belgium for our live coverage of the 68th Gent-Wevelgem. It was a cold and windy
start, nevertheless, for the midweek classic between the Ronde van Vlaanderen
and Paris-Roubaix. The wind is from the northeast, which means it will be behind
the riders on the way out to the coast, then against them coming back into Wevelgem.
It's going to be selective, for sure.
The UCI carried out blood tests
this morning before the start, testing six teams: Rabobank, Quick.Step, Euskaltel,
AG2R, Française des Jeux and Cofidis, with all riders declared fit to race.
14:24 CEST 120km/90km to go
The race started
near the banks of the Leie in Deinze's Grote Markt at 11:30am. John Gadret (AG2R)
and Daniele Colli (Liquigas-Bianchi) were non-starters, while T-Mobile's Lorenzo
Bernucci got off the bike after 4 km, reducing T-Mobile to five riders.
After 25 km, three riders tried to attack: Iker Flores (Euskaltel-Euskadi),
David Boucher (Unibet.com) and Cyril Lemoine (Crédit Agricole). They weren't
allowed to get away, and the peloton stayed together for the first hour, covering
40 km. Carlos Zarate (Saunier Duval) and Kenny van Hummel (Skil-Shimano) were
able to get away for longer, but were brought back by halfway.
A
crash - there are always crashes in this race - took out Bernard Van Ulden (Navigators).
He has been taken to hospital.
Vladimir Gusev (Discovery Channel)
and Bernhard Eisel (Française des Jeux) - two strong riders - have jumped clear
of the bunch and have a small gap. We've just been through Westvleteren, the
town of a certain trappist beer...
14:33 CEST 125km/85km to go
The two leaders have
15 seconds as they race through Poperinge, en route to the first ascent of the
Kemmelberg.
Nico Mattan, the controversial winner of last year's
edition of Gent-Wevelgem wasn't on the start list for RVV last Sunday. The team
management had left the eccentric Mattan at home. According to HNB because they
didn't appreciate Mattan going to a party after the E3 Prijs last week.
"I didn't see one reason not to be selected. On the flat I could have helped
Van Petegem. I have the experience; according to me that's the sum of all the
mistakes you have made in the past."
"The team management knew that
I needed the kilometres of Milan-San Remo for the Flemish period. Via the media
I heard I wasn't selected. Then I had to read in an e-mail that I was expected
to ride GP Rudy Dhaenens in Nevele. I was having some problems with my knee.
There has to be a lot more communication in this team; but we're on the right
track," Mattan told Sportwereld.
"I'm not the team leader for G-W,
I wasn't last year either. I'm not someone who can finish things off. Everything
starts and ends with the legs. If I feel good than I'll aim for top-three, but
it's not because you're racing on your training parcours that you are in for
the win. I'm fifteen percent below the level I was at last year."
As he did last year, Mattan did manage a sip of jenever on the podium to stave
off the cold.
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14:36 CEST
We spoke to Navigators' Glen Chadwick
before the start today, and the Australian was looking a little tired: His wife
Belle had just given birth to a baby girl, Jade.
"I've got a bit
of an achilles problem, but it seems to be getting better," said Chadwick about
his current form. "I'll ride a bit of a support role today. Four of us are trying
to look after four others: Hilton, Valeri, Oleg, and Dolly - David O'Loughlin,
the Irishman, who is going good. I think around 93 km there's the feed zone.
After that, that's when the smack goes down. We have to try and keep them up
the front."
14:37 CEST 130km/80km to go
The still fairly
large peloton is now 1'21 behind the two leaders, with lots of blue Quick.Step
jerseys in front.
14:40 CEST 132km/78km to go
Matt White (Discovery)
and Sergei Ivanov (T-Mobile) are at the front of the peloton, working for their
teammates. The pace has picked up a little, and they're sitting on 60 km/h on
the flat (with tailwind). Tom Boonen is very close to the front.
14:43 CEST 134km/76km to go
Ivanov continues
to drive the bunch, as the leaders pass a car that is parked perpendicular to
the road, but in a ditch. Eisel now takes the lead as Gusev takes on some food.
14:45 CEST
Alessandro Petacchi is looking forward
to today's Gent-Wevelgem, his last one in the spring classics campaign. Petacchi
himself expected more of his RVV debut.
In an interview with HNB,
Petacchi said, "That casino on the Koppenberg and the stampede towards the foot
of that climb! Fear? Of course I was afraid! Even in the sprint I feel that
fear; but I can push that aside when the peloton races towards the finish. In
the Ronde, I was thinking of all the races that are still to come though, the
Giro, the Tour. No, you don't take any crazy risks in a race in which you aren't
one of the top-favourites. That's why I'm not riding Paris-Roubaix. There's
too much risk to ruin the important part of my season. And, we do have Zabel!
Petacchi confirmed that he will be back for next year's RVV, to achieve that
top ten placing he had hoped for last Sunday. But first things first, Gent-Wevelgem:
"Luckily this is a less difficult race than Flanders. It's not that hard, less
technical. One needs to be aware of the wind, and be careful in the descent
of the Kemmel, which is doable. If I'm not wrong, they aren't predicting any
rain.
"I'm not saying it will be easy. On the contrary. To ride
a stage in the Giro means only 30km of stress. Here you have the whole race,
but that's how it is here in Belgium. With how many riders will we go into the
finale after the Kemmel? Thirty, forty men? Never a guarantee for a sprint which
I'm hoping for. There's always a possibility for a break to get away, like last
year. Gent-Wevelgem is a race in which also the sprinters need to make the right
moves. Yes, like Cipollini, the last time he won, that's a good example."
14:46 CEST 136km/74km to go
Skil-Shimano is now
working on the front of the peloton, which has started to shed riders. Euskaltel
jerseys are prominent at the back. The action has reduced the gap to 45 seconds
as the leaders continue in front.
14:48 CEST 137km/73km to go
Gusev takes the points
for the Scherpenberg (De Klijte) ahead of Eisel, with the peloton just 32 seconds
behind. Davitamon-Lotto has massed on the front.
14:50 CEST 139km/71km to go
Eisel is not working
a lot with Gusev, much to the annoyance of the Russian. They will lose their
gap before the hills, it looks like.
Van Bon takes a turn, then a
Lampre rider. The next climb is the Vidaigneberg then the Rodeberg.
14:52 CEST 141km/69km to go
The bunch is getting
closer all the time as it races through Westouter just 17 seconds behind the
break. It's lost a few riders, but there are still well over 100.
The Vidaigneberg starts, with Nico Mattan himself attacking and joined by David
Kopp (Gerolsteiner) and Philippe Gilbert (FDJ).
14:55 CEST 141km/69km to go
A new break is forming
on the Vidaigneberg, with Vladimir Gusev (Discovery), Bernhard Eisel and Philippe
Gilbert (Française des Jeux), Nico Mattan (Davitamon), Staf Scheirlinckx (Cofidis),
Andre Greipel (T-Mobile), David Kopp (Gerolsteiner) and a few more riders gaining
5-10 seconds on the bunch. Alan Davis (Liberty) is also there, and leads with
Kopp now.
14:57 CEST 143km/67km to go
The group grows on
the Rodeberg, with Allan Davis (Liberty), David Kopp (Gerolsteiner), Marco Milesi
(Liquigas), Nick Nuyens (Quick.Step), Vladimir Gusev (Discovery), Bernhard Eisel
and Philippe Gilbert (Française des Jeux), Nico Mattan and Gert Steegmans (Davitamon),
Staf Scheirlinckx (Cofidis), Andre Greipel and Marcus Burghardt (T-Mobile) all
there. But Lampre leads a chase behind and the gap is closing. Or the peloton
is splitting. We'll see soon enough.
14:57 CEST
The peloton is now in one long line
over the top of the Rodeberg, Kopp and Davis still have a tiny lead.
14:59 CEST 144km/66km to go
All back together
with 66 km to go. The Monteberg will be the next climb.
Henk Vogels
gets on the front of the bunch with Baden Cooke in tow.
15:01 CEST 147km/63km to go
Hoste and Van Bon
lead through Dranouter, with Boonen lurking in about 5th wheel, wanting to stay
out of trouble before the Kemmelberg.
15:02 CEST
The Monteberg starts, with Boonen
in fourth wheel. Willems is up there for JAcques, as is Vansevenant and Baden
Cooke. There's a bit of jostling.
15:04 CEST 149km/61km to go
A crash at the back!
Gennadi Mikhailov (Discovery) was too close to the edge of the road on the Monteberg,
clipped a wheel and went down. But he's not hurt much.
Nick Nuyens
sets tempo over the top of the climb. Boonen is next to him, finding his wheel
now. Zabel is also up there and now the Discoverys move up with Hincapie, Hoste
and Devolder.
15:06 CEST 150km/60km to go
The Kemmelberg begins!
Hushovd is near the front and drives the pace. Klier is second with Boonen and
Hoste right up there. Hushovd keeps a little gap, but it's not much. Davitamon
fall back en masse.
15:08 CEST 151km/59km to go
Hoste now takes over
then Cancellara (CSC), who goes over the top first. Hoste next, then Hushovd.
The peloton is stringing out, and Mattan is now a long way back. After the descent
of the Kemmel, it gets hard through the flat fields where there is no shelter.
Many riders lose bidons on the descent. But Everyone is staying on their bikes.
15:09 CEST
Klier, Cancellara and Hushovd push
the pace with Ventoso, Hincapie and Boonen also coming through. Looks like Petacchi
has made it too. The bunch is in a long long line, and now the pace should stay
high.
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15:10 CEST 153km/57km to go
Swiss champ Martin
Elmiger (Phonak) leads, driving the pace up and trying to split the bunch. There
are holes appearing everywhere.
Ventoso has a gap. Impressive riding
by the Saunier Duval man.
15:11 CEST
Ventoso sits up though, as the front
part of the peloton catches him. It's a messy situation now. Gilbert and Flecha
move up behind Elmiger, who has a bit of a lead.
15:13 CEST 154km/56km to go
Nuyens does a turn,
then Vansevenant and a Bouygues rider attack. They take another three with them:
Milram, Gerolsteiner and Quick.Step.
15:15 CEST 155km/55km to go
The group: Wim Vansevenant
(Davitamon-Lotto), Steven De Jongh (Quick.Step), Anthony Geslin (Bouygues) Alessandro
Cortinovis (Milram), Rene Haselbacher (Gerolsteiner). They have 22 seconds on
the bunch, which has taken a short break.
Rabobank and Discovery
have missed the break, so they'll want to do some chasing soon. And Unibet.
15:18 CEST 158km/52km to go
The chase is started
as the crosswinds hit the peloton. A Lampre, FDJ and Unibet rider push the pace.
The oft-present Enrico Franzoi is up the front of the bunch on the Scherpenberg.
Matt Wilson is in third wheel.
But the break has 48 seconds!
15:19 CEST
Russian champion Serguei Ivanov was
riding strong in the Tour of Flanders but just couldn’t bridge the gap with
the leaders. Eventually, he was captured by a big group a few kilometres of
the finish to finish 25th: "Sunday was a terrible day for me, but I recuperated
very well," Ivanov told Cyclingnews at the start. "I’m eager to take
revenge on how things unfolded in the Tour of Flanders. It was also my mistake
because I was too far behind at the Koppenberg. Maybe I should try and improve
my running abilities for next year," the Russian champion joked.
"It would’ve been nice if Klier could wait for me, but it was too dangerous.
We couldn’t take the risk that we both lost contact with the leaders. This is
a new day and thus a new chance to take revenge. In the past, I always missed
the decisive escape. Hopefully I can be there up front in the leading group
today."
15:21 CEST 160km/50km to go
The five leaders
work hard together, as the chase carves a little bit of time off. Still 44 seconds
though. De Jongh is the fastest man in the break, but Haselbacher is pretty
handy.
A Discovery rider: Matt White, does a huge turn in the peloton
and takes another 5 seconds off the lead. It's 39 seconds.
15:23 CEST 161km/49km to go
The pace is high
on the cobbles in Westouter as Roesems tries to slow it down. But White gets
back on the front and keeps the pace up, pegging the gap back to 32 seconds.
Uros Murn (Phonak) had a promising start of the season, but couldn't get any
good results in the past weeks. "Today, I'm working to get Robert Hunter into
the leading group at the finish," Murn told CN. "This race suits me well,
but last year I also worked for Hunter. I'm feeling really well, but I need
a bit luck to stay in the front group."
The Slovenian Phonak rider
may be hindered by his elbow. "I fell in the Tour of Flanders while getting
ready for the Taaienberg. We were chasing on the Pozzato group at that moment.
I had to be brought to the hospital with an ambulance. I feel a bit pain right
now, but I'm not hurt too much."
15:25 CEST 162km/48km to go
It's Discovery continuing
to work as Iker Flores (Euskaltel) attacks on the Vidaigneberg, trying to close
the 32 seconds gap alone. Nice jump.
15:27 CEST
The peloton still lags 42 seconds
behind the five leaders, who are working well together. Flores made some impression
but is caught on the Rodeberg by the Discovery-led bunch.
15:28 CEST 164km/46km to go
In the lead group,
De Jongh takes a fast turn on the descent of the Rodeberg at 70 km/h. Geslin
comes through, then Haselbacher, Vansevenant and Cortinovis. Over a couple of
traffic islands now.
15:30 CEST 166km/44km to go
They're now in Loker,
gaining some shelter form the wind through the houses. DIscovery has set a hard
tempo, and the back of the peloton is one long line. Corioni punctures and is
now chasing.
32 seconds, stable. The five leaders are working well.
Now Marc Wauters does a turn for Rabobank in the peloton, helping out Matt White.
15:32 CEST 167km/43km to go
The gap is coming
down now through Dranouter as Wauters hammers. But he's got a Davitamon for
company, and the pace eases off. 20 seconds. The five leaders are on the Monteberg.
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15:33 CEST 168km/42km to go
Vansevenant leads
the break on the Monteberg, while behind it's Stijn Devolder doing a solid turn
on the front. Matt Wilson is up there too, having a good race today.
15:35 CEST 169km/41km to go
Boonen has dropped
back a fair way on the second ascent of the Monteberg, and is trying to move
up. The bunch is still quite big, riding as one block on this climb. Milram
looks to be blocking a little and the gap goes out to 27 seconds again.
15:36 CEST
On the Kemmelberg now, and Vansevenant
leads the break, with Haselbacher and De Jongh behind. Geslin is the first to
drop.
15:37 CEST 170km/40km to go
The bunch is led
by Davis (Liberty), 24 seconds behind. Four of the five leaders stick together
on the steep cobbles, with Geslin trying to stay in contact. He could get back
on.
Flecha leads the bunch behind Davis. Boonen comes over in about
50th position.
15:38 CEST
Geslin is back on on the descent,
and the five fly down the cobbles. Davis is first in the peloton, and makes
it down safely ahead of Flecha and Dekker.
15:39 CEST 172km/38km to go
White is off the
back with Beppu, their work done. Now the peloton strings out through the fields,
25 seconds behind the breakaways.
15:40 CEST
Nick Nuyens finished a disappointing
17th in the Tour of Flanders: "I'm not happy about that," he told Cyclingnews.
You don't plan to have the worst day of your season right at the Tour of Flanders."
Looking at today's race he was more optimistic: "Hopefully we can again play
the tactics like in Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne. But I assume the others know how
we like to play it now. Still, to try these tactics your legs have to be alright."
Asked about the comparison with his teammate Tom Boonen he is clear. "You can't
make a comparison between apples and tomatoes. Tom is on another level than
most of the peloton. I have less speed than him, so I can't win that much races
like he does. I will be happy with my performances if I can keep make progression."
15:41 CEST 173km/37km to go
A group of 25-30
has split off the front of the peloton in pursuit of the leaders. Then the rest
of the bunch is in bits. There are three main groups on the road behind the
quintet in front.
15:42 CEST 174km/36km to go
Flecha is certainly
in the front group, as is Davis. And Alessandro Petacchi! He has three Milram
riders with him. He could be the man today.
The gap is down to 13
seconds.
15:44 CEST 176km/34km to go
Well, this is an
interesting situation. Not only does Petacchi have three teammates with him
in the front bunch, he also has Cortinovis in front. That's enough for a decent
lead out. Cortinovis is still working though, as the gap narrows to 11 seconds.
The front bunch grows to 40, and doesn't look to have Tom Boonen in it. The
World Champ is taking it easy today.
15:46 CEST
Mark Renshaw (Credit Agricole) had
a good opening of his season with a win in the Tour Méditerranéen in February.
"The last weeks I'm feeling good but not super," he told us. "Thor Hushovd is
our team leader, and he was doing well in the Tour of Flanders. I exploded at
the Oude Kwaremont. Afterwards, I fumbled from one group to another, and I finished
65th in the end. Not a great result, but I'm happy that I could finish. It's
the first time I compete in these races so I'm willing to learn a lot. Today's
race should fit me more than last Sunday, so I'm a bit freer today, as is Hinault.
Sunday we're all working for Thor again."
15:46 CEST 178km/32km to go
The break is caught,
and we have a peloton of 40 riders with Petacchi as the quickest man. Hincapie
is also up here.
15:48 CEST 179km/31km to go
Mattan and Van Bon
are working had in the second group, trying to get back to the front. They're
half a minute behind though, which is not easy. 27 seconds... Petacchi had better
get his men to work hard in front to keep Boonen away.
15:49 CEST 180km/30km to go
And Milram is working
hard now, as Van Bon leads a small group with Steels and Boonen off the front
of peloton 2. Den Bakker is also there, and Devolder. More help for Hincapie
and Petacchi?
15:49 CEST
De Jongh punctures from peloton 1.
Bad luck for the Quick.Step sprinter.
15:51 CEST
The chasing group grows again and
has got the gap down to 17 seconds. The lead group is in reach, but it'll be
a tough job to close it.
In peloton 1, Milram and Rabobank are driving
the pace, while Nuyens is up there trying to slow it down.
15:52 CEST
Aart Vierhouten (Skil Shimano) didn't
have any good memories about last Sunday's Tour of Flanders. "I already fell
down at km zero," he told Cyclingnews. "A guy crossed the road and I
couldn't avoid a crash. At km 80 I had to change my bike. I waited a long time,
but I could come back in the peloton. Unfortunately, the new bike had some gear
problems so I was riding with a handicap. I decided that I shouldn't bother
about winning and consider the race as good training.
"Today is
a beautiful race where I can ride in the front lines again. We will all look
at the Quickstep team. When they are in the front, you shouldn't be too far
at the back. The race will be decided in the flatland of the Moeren and in the
battle before the two hills. Next Sunday in Paris-Roubaix, you can still recover
from certain problems or mistakes. Today's race is shorter, so there are less
chances to come back at the leaders."
15:53 CEST 182km/28km to go
Zabel, Pozzato, Eisel,
Haussler, Klier, Hushovd, Vierhouten, and Dekker are also in the first group.
Group 2 is still at 24 seconds.
15:55 CEST 183km/27km to go
As Van Bon and Mattan
get no help from the rest of the group, the gap goes up to 31 seconds. It looks
like the winner will come from the front group with Petacchi in it.
15:58 CEST 186km/24km to go
Pagliarini punctures
out of the front group, which is splitting as Rabobank drives the pace up. Group
2 still follows at 23 seconds.
Petacchi has made the split with the
Rabo riders: he's having a fantastic race.
16:00 CEST 187km/23km to go
The front group is
in a very long line as Rabobank and Milram keep pouring on the pace. The second
group takes corner, led by Van Bon, now 29 seconds back. Doesn't look like they're
coming back. Boonen isn't working, as he's got Pozzato and Nuyens in front.
16:01 CEST 188km/22km to go
Group two has sat
up. It's over for them.
16:03 CEST 190km/20km to go
Well, although Tom
Boonen isn't in the front group, Alessandro Petacchi certainly is. Rabobank
is keeping the pace high, which works in Petacchi's favour at the moment.
16:05 CEST 191km/19km to go
Van Bon and Mattan
are working again in the second group, but it's a 55 seconds gap and they will
not come back unless the whole front group goes the wrong way. This is not unheard
of (our group was led astray by a couple of Italians on Saturday...)
Vansevenant has attacked the front group with Eisel, but they won't get clear.
Milram has control of the peloton.
16:07 CEST 192km/18km to go
The bunch fans out
as the blue jerseys of Milram keep Petacchi in a good position. Pozzato moves
up, while Hushovd sits back behind a teammate.
16:09 CEST
Boonen relaxes in the second group,
zipping up his jersey. Hoste and Devolder are with him, thinking of Sunday probably.
Their race is over for today.
16:10 CEST 195km/15km to go
Milram has got four
riders in front working for Petacchi, while past winner Lars Michaelsen (CSC)
gets a handy motorbike to attack off. The Dane has a small gap and tries to
increase it, but it's to no avail. Milram is riding a great race today.
16:12 CEST 196km/14km to go
Michaelsen holds
a few seconds gap around a roundabout with 14 km to go. Milram has the bunch
strung out, a little bit in the gutter. Michaelsen looks back, puts his head
down and keeps trying.
Allan Davis (Liberty) is another sprinter
in the front group.
16:14 CEST 198km/12km to go
Milram tries to put
everyone in the gutter, before Bert Roesems (Davitamon-Lotto) puts in a massive
attack. You don't want to let him go.
16:15 CEST 198km/12km to go
Roesems, the big
Davitamon time trialist, slowly eases away from Cortinovis on the front of the
peloton. It's 54 km/h now.
16:17 CEST 200km/10km to go
Roesems has 8 hard
won seconds as he drives along with 11 km to go. Impressive attack, this one.
There's no panic in the peloton yet.
16:18 CEST 201.5km/8.5km to go
12 seconds and
increasing, and no the counters come. Flecha and Arvesen shot off the front
of the peloton, breaking the rhythm of Milram, who are down to three plus Petacchi.
Roesems doesn't care, stomping on the pedals with 9 seconds of his gap intact.
16:19 CEST 202.5km/7.5km to go
Milram might have
to use some of its leadout men to chase, depending on what the others do now.
There is a brief respite and Roesems gets 10 seconds. Cadamuro working on the
front now to try and bring back Big Bert. He is cracking the Milram team, one
by one, with his powerful pedaling.
16:21 CEST 204km/6km to go
Vogels is just behind
the Petacchi train, hoping his teammate won't get caught. Nuyens is also up
there.
Roesems takes a right hander with 10 seconds on the group.
He's not slowing down, but he can't get completely clear. Cadamuro buries himself
on the front as his teammate Knees moves back up again.
16:21 CEST 204.5km/5.5km to go
Can Davitamon
make it two in a row, or will it be an Italian win today? Or someone else? Bert
Roesems is now 13 seconds clear of the peloton, 14 seconds. And Milram is really
hurting now. The bunch is lined out.
16:23 CEST 205.5km/4.5km to go
5 clicks to go
and Bert Roesems has 13 seconds as he reaches the safety of the houses and is
out of the wind. The more corners, the better for the solo rider.
16:24 CEST 206km/4km to go
It looks like Milram
will bury itself to bring back Bert Roesems, and the Others are going to have
a hard time putting any counter attacks in. They'll need to, or Petacchi or
Roesems will win.
10 seconds.
16:25 CEST 206.7km/3.3km to go
Bert Roesems gets
out of the saddle for a bit and keeps the speed up as he hits a blast of wind.
Headwind now. 9 seconds. But Cadamuro has cracked and he's gooone. Still two
men before Petacchi: Velo and Zabel.
16:25 CEST 207.5km/2.5km to go
5 seconds with
3 km to go and Roesems is fighting a losing battle. He looks back, but keeps
going. It ain't over yet.
16:26 CEST 208.5km/1.5km to go
The bunch is edging
towards the lone leader, but they're running out of kilometres. But Roesems
needs more time if he's to hold off the sprint in the final kilometre.
Counter attacks: Gilbert. No, he can't get clear. Petacchi is rapidly being
isolated, and Roesems is still away.
16:27 CEST 209km/1km to go
Roesems gives it one
last massive effort and is chased down by Pozzato, who has pulled a nice counter
with just over 1 km to go.
16:28 CEST
Pozzato has a big gap now! They can't
get him from here, surely. But here's the sprint winding up. Will it be enough?
16:29 CEST 210km/0km to go
Filippo Pozzato pours
on the pace in the last 500 metres as the sprint reaches full speed behind him.
The Quick.Step rider is dying in the headwind and is just just caught on the
line by Thor Hushovd!!!! Winner of Gent-Wevelgem. Impressive stuff.
16:30 CEST
Hushovd is congratulated at the finish,
the first Norwegian to win this race. David Kopp finished second, with Petacchi
third and Pozzato fourth, it looks like.
What a finish!
16:41 CEST
Well, it was a slightly different
finish to Gent-Wevelgem than predicted, with the two top sprinters being beaten
today by strongman Thor Hushovd, who is often good into a headwind. Petacchi's
losses often happen when it's a headwind, but a tailwind finish today probably
would have led to a Pozzato victory. Or even Roesems.
Tom Boonen
keeps the ProTour jersey with Petacchi moving into second, 17 points behind
Boonen.
That's all from us today in Wevelgem. Join us on Sunday,
April 9, for Paris-Roubaix, the Hell of the North!
Results
Provisional 1 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole 4.57.33 2 David Kopp (Ger) Gerolsteiner 3 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Milram 4 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) QYea it was uick.Step 5 George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel 6 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC 7 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Francaise des Jeux 8 Erki Putsep (Est) AG2R 9 Allan Davis (Aus) Liberty Seguros 10 Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) Team CSC
