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50th E3 Prijs Vlaanderen - 1.HC
Belgium, March 31, 2007
Boonen follows in the footsteps of Van Looy
Four in-a-row for Belgian super-hero
By Gregor Brown and Brecht Decaluwé in Harelbeke
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Tom Boonen of Quickstep-Innergetic charged to victory in the 50th E3 Prijs Vlaanderen and won the sprint of four over Swiss Fabian Cancellara (Team CSC), German Marcus Burghardt (T-Mobile), and Italian Manuel Quinziato (Liquigas). The Belgian made history by becoming the first rider to win four times in a row in Harelbeke.
Coming into the finale, the escape was supported by a strong tailwind, while behind, the chase had all but given up and it was left to fight for fifth. Burghardt was the first to have a dig, but it was ineffective. The T-Mobile giant was followed by Quinziato, but Boonen and Cancellara made sure it was going to be a sprint of four.
Approaching the final 500 metres Quinziato kicked again in a desperate bid for victory. Cancellara seized this opportunity to launch his sprint. The Time Trial World Champion's grind to the line was struck by the Boonen lighting bolt. The 2005 World Champion rolled over the line and captured another bit of history for his palmarès.
The win by Boonen salvaged the day for Quick-Step. The Belgian team lost World Champion Paolo Bettini when, in the middle of a powerful attack, his rear derailleur snapped on the Knokteberg.
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"This was the toughest of the four," Boonen said about his fourth consecutive win. "I didn't dare to think about those statistics as I thought I was unable to react on multiple attacks but apparently they were dead tired as well," the former world champion explained. "During the finale I suffered from cramps, something which doesn't happening to me that often. Coming over the finish line I wanted to raise my arms but a cramp got into my hand. Probably I haven't been drinking enough.
"I wasn't confident for the sprint because I knew it would be hard to finish it but the [tail]-wind was in my favour as nobody could get away. Luckily Burghardt was there as well, he reacted nervously on everybody who moved. Besides that I have to admit that the young German was unbelievably strong on the hills," Boonen continued.
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The former World Champion will be the man to beat next week in the Tour of Flanders and Boonen realizes this very well. "The E3 Prijs doesn't keep any secrets; if you're good here, you're good in the Tour of Flanders as well."
Fabian Cancellara had to admit that Boonen was virtually unbeatable in the E3 Prijs Harelbeke although he believed in his chances against Boonen in the sprint. "Sprint is a lottery," the Swiss said to Cyclingnews.
The Time Trial World Champion was expected to launch an attack during the final kilometres but he waited for the sprint. "I wanted to play my cards in a sprint because I noticed Boonen wasn't pedalling like normal, we've known each other since 1998 so you can see if something's different.
"I suffered from cramps – I hear Boonen suffered cramps as well – which is no wonder after I had done my time trial [to bridge] and after I helped O'Grady to get back in the front group," Cancellara continued.
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The Swiss power-house was happy with his performance as he was unsure about his form. "This feels like a victory to me even though I didn't win. I waited for O'Grady as we knew he was in great shape; I was ill in the Tirreno-Adriatico," Cancellara explained. In the sprint he was close – not close enough though – to beat the Belgian sprinter. "I think I did a good sprint. Scott Sunderland told me this morning that the finish is just behind the corner so I should start early enough which I did."
The hottest prospect in the front group was Marcus Burghardt; the German was extremely powerful in the sprints on the Flemish cobbled hills. Burghardt tried to avoid a sprint in the final kilometre but he ended up leading out the sprint. "That was a bad position to hit the sprint so I was without a chance.
"Actually it was only during the final kilometres that I started thinking about a possible win," Burghardt said to Cyclingnews. "Last year I was almost out of the team after being injured and now I'm doing this. I often dreamed of following Boonen in these races and now I'm doing so," Burghardt realized he showed an exceptional performance.
How it unfolded
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194 riders got away for the 50th edition of the E3-Prijs Harelbeke, a race often referred to as a mini version of the Tour of Flanders. The peloton had to overcome twelve of the typical Flemish 'bergen,' the tiny but robust hills which are often covered with cobblestones.
The peloton took an easy start as they averaged only 31.2 km/h during the first ten kilometres, with riders mainly going back to the team car to take off jackets or – like Francis Mourey (FDJeux)– to switch shoes. Rhys Pollock (DFL-Cyclingnews) was the first attacker of the day and his maximum advantage amounted to forty seconds, and after eight kilometres, his attacking adventure was over. From then on, the speed went up with the peloton being strung out. When the first hour was over, (averaging 38 km/h), the peloton decided to take a sanitary stop.
Soon after, Jeremy Venell (DFL-Cyclingnews) jumped away from the peloton and he achieved an advantage of one minute but then the peloton got up to speed, and Venell was brought back. Oscar Freire and Paolo Bettini had a flat tyre on the first cobbled sections, but the favourites were quickly returned forward into the peloton.
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After a hundred kilometres, the peloton was still together as nobody was able to set up a successful breakaway. At the feed zone, Steffen Wesemann (Wiesenhof), Enrico Gasparotto (Liquigas), Nico Sijmens (Tönissteiner), Niels Scheuneman (Unibet), and Lars Michaelsen (CSC) abandoned the race; earlier today David Rodriguez (Navigators) abandoned after a crash caused by losing his contact lenses.
A compact peloton hit the first climbs La Houppe, Berg Stene, and the Boigneberg. Marcel Sieberg (Milram) attacked the peloton on the last climb and worked his way to a lead of fifty seconds. As the roads were getting smaller, the peloton at the back looked like an accordion with some riders standing still in the corners. These circumstances resulted in some crashes with Bert Scheirlinckx (Tönissteiner) being the major casualty with what looked like a broken collarbone.
The first major climb of the day was the Eikenberg and we noticed a strong Tom Boonen and Gert Steegmans for Quickstep, while Michael Boogerd was riding easily next to them; meanwhile Stuart O'Grady (CSC) punctured on the hill and grabbed a wheel from teammate Kasper Klostergård. Sieberg was brought back on the Stationsberg with Stijn Devolder (Discovery Channel) attacking the peloton. Soon after, Philippe Gilbert (FDJeux) and Manuel Quinziato (Liquigas) joined him in the lead.
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On the Eikenberg, Belgian hero Boonen unleashed his force with Marcus Burghardt (T-Mobile) being the only rider able to follow; Boogerd sat on their wheel but just couldn't follow. Yet Boonen and Burghardt forced their way towards the three leaders while Fabian Cancellara (CSC) tried to bridge up, too, but on his own; it took him much effort but after a couple of hard kilometres in pursuit, he joined the five leaders in what seemed to be the decisive breakaway. So with fifty kilometres to go, there were six leaders: Belgians Tom Boonen, Philippe Gilbert and Stijn Devolder, Germany's hot prospect Marcus Burghardt, Swiss powerhouse Fabian Cancellara and the surprisingly strong Italian Manuel Quinziato. Behind them Predictor-Lotto and Lampre were forced to take the initiative in a largely reduced peloton.
On the next climb – the Oude Kruiskens – Predictor was blown away while another CSC-rider tried to bridge up to the front on his own in an effort to put the CSC team in a powerful tactical position. O'Grady was unable to close the last metres on the leaders but then Cancellara decided to drop back to help O'Grady. After a short team time trial, they had two men in the lead with Cancellara immediately taking turns again, something we seldom see in the finale of these races.
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Boonen led the breakaway group on the Paterberg - the short 20% steep lump. O'Grady couldn't follow and dropped back to Oscar Freire (Rabobank) who attacked the peloton together with Paolo Bettini. The world champion forced Freire to work and when they hit the longer cobbled climb of the Oude Kwaremont Bettini jumped away from Freire who was clearly suffering on the cobbles. With thirty kilometres and two asphalt climbs to go, Freire dropped back into a group of six on fifteen seconds with Dutch champion Boogerd, Alessandro Ballan (Lampre), Baden Cooke (Unibet), Serguei Ivanov (Astana), Allan Johansen (CSC) and Roy Sentjens (Predictor-Lotto) while Bettini and O'Grady joined the six leaders.
On the Knokteberg, the world champion attacked being followed by Burghardt, Boonen, Cancellara, and Quinziato. Mechanical troubles arose again for Quickstep as Bettini's rear derailleur broke when Burghardt took over the initiative. The four leaders quickly managed a gap of thirty seconds on the group of ten behind them. On the Tiegemberg, Boonen looked ready to initiate attacks for he was clearly the fastest man in this group. However nobody attacked on the ultimate climb. With ten kilometres remaining, the four leaders were fighting wind from the side and also the group including Freire which was trailing at 33 seconds; Boonen was often seen standing on the pedals to stretch his painful back.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Luc Claessen/www.ctm-images.com
- Paolo Bettini (QuickStep) interviewed at the start by Michel Wuyts.
- Michael Boogerd (Rabobank) looking pretty svelte in the Dutch champion's kit.
- A rider's view of racing in Flanders.
- Tom Boonen (QuickStep) and Gianni Meersman (Discovery Channel).
- Paolo Bettini (QuickStep) gets some technical assistance early on.
- Bettini shows how to make the best use of your team car.
- Gianni Meersman (Discovery Channel) feeling the burn.
- The Belgian cycling fanatics were out in force today.
- Stuart O'Grady (Team CSC) keeps off the Paterberg cobbles.
- Paolo Bettini climbing the Paterberg.
- Peter Van Petegem (QuickStep) looking trim on the Paterberg.
- Jimmy Casper (Unibet) on the Paterberg.
- Wim De Vocht (Predictor-Lotto) battles up the Paterberg.
- Alessandro Ballan (Lampre-Fondital) making use of the gutter.
- Stijn Devolder (Discovery Channel) finished in the second group.
- Oscar Freire (Rabobank) gave it everything but missed the final selection.
- Bettini climbing the Oude Kwaremont.
- Stuart O'Grady (Team CSC) follows Bettini on the Kwaremont.
- Tom Boonen (QuickStep) leads Fabian Cancellara (Team CSC) on the Tiegemberg.
- Boonen drives the final escape.
- Boonen wearing number one after his E3 win last year.
- The leading group of four descending towards the finish.
- Tom Boonen (Quickstep-Innergetic) wins his fourth E3.
- A happy Boonen wins.
- Boonen takes the sprint of four.
- Tom Boonen salutes his adoring Belgian public.
- Four Tom Boonen (Quickstep-Innergetic) is the first to win four E3s in a row.
- Cancellara and Boonen finished in the top two places.
- Cancellara and Boonen let the bubbly flow.
Images by DCP/Bert Geerts
- Leif Hoste (Predictor-Lotto) is popular in these parts.
- Tom Boonen (QuickStep) looking cool as usual
- Complete concentration from Stuart O'Grady (Team CSC).
- Aart Vierhouten (Skil-Shimano) breathing hard.
- Erik Zabel (Milram) finished over four minutes down on the winner today.
- Gerben Löwik (Rabobank) on the pavé.
- Laszlo Bodrogi (Credit Agricole) the Hungarian national champion.
- Leon Van Bon (Rabobank) already has a win this season in the Nokere Koerse.
- Belgian champion Nico 'Rambo' Eeckhout (Chocolade Jacques) pounds the pavé.
- Oscar Freire (Rabobank) keeps will hidden in the peloton.
- Steven De Jongh (QuickStep) is better suited to flatter races.
- Gert Steegmans (QuickStep) working for Tom Boonen.
Images by Gregor Brown/Cyclingnews
- Gabriele Balducci (Acqua & Sapone-Caffè Mokambo) De Rosa.
- Campagnolo cranks on Balducci's bike.
- Ballan's bike waits to be used.
- Ballan finished 2nd in 2006.
- Bennati's machine before E3
- Place your bet
- The odds for the E3
- Power for Campagnolo's electric shifting.
- The electric front derailleur on a Liquigas bike
- The control panel for Campagnolo's electric shifting.
- DFL-Cyclngnews team car.
- DFL-Cyclngnews car ready for E3.
- Race food but not for the riders.
- Enrico Gasparotto (Liquigas) at the start.
- Gasparotto's Cannondale at the start.
- The Navigators' Colnagos
- Colnagos all lined up before the start.
- Boonen talks to the press after the race.
- Boonen listens to the questions after taking his fourth E3.
- Cancellara explains finale.
- Fabian Cancellara (Team CSC) after finishing second in E3.
- Cancellara sends reporter to sleep after a hard day of work.
Start
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Brecht Decaluwé/Cyclingnews.com
- Eric Van Lancker is the Flemish TD for the Navigators team.
- Eric Vanderaerden at the team car , hoping to get Nico Mattan in a good position today.
- Nico Mattan is looking forward to these races
- Scott Sunderland explained to Cyclingnews that Cancellara should hide his good form a bit more
- Former MTB world champion Filip Meirhaeghe is in good form these days.
- Philippe Gilbert is expected in the front today
- Fuchsia colours and a banner for T-Mobile's Marcus Burghardt
- Steven Cummings is the domestique for the Discovery team although he hopes for more on Flemish roads.
- Jimmy Casper had a good start of the season in 2007
- Stuart O'Grady and Nico Mattan are getting ready for the start
- Stuart O'Grady is enjoying his good form , he hopes it will pay off during the classics next week.
- Fabian Wegmann gets ready for his first meeting with cobblestones as a professional rider
- Tom Boonen wasn't easy to spot this morning but there he is!
- Belgian champion Niko Eeckhout and his colleagues get away.
- Liquigas ends the long stretch of riders who took the start in Harelbeke.
Results - 203 km
1 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quickstep-Innergetic 4.55.36 (41,204 km/h) 2 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC 3 Marcus Burghardt (Ger) T-Mobile 4 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas 5 Allan Johansen (Den) Team CSC 0.42 6 Roy Sentjens (Bel) Predictor-Lotto 0.46 7 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Française Des Jeux 8 Baden Cooke (Aus) Unibet.com 9 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team CSC 10 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 11 Serguei Ivanov (Rus) Astana 12 Oscar Freire (Spa) Rabobank 13 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Discovery Channel 14 Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank 0.56 15 Murilo Fischer (Bra) Liquigas 2.25 16 Staf Scheirlinckx (Bel) Cofidis 17 Simone Masciarelli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone-Caffè Mokambo 18 Arnaud Coyot (Fra) Unibet.com 19 Martin Elmiger (Swi) Ag2r Prévoyance 20 Bert De Waele (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Tönissteiner 21 Peter Van Petegem (Bel) Quickstep-Innergetic 22 Andy Cappelle (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Tönissteiner 23 Roberto Petito (Ita) Liquigas 24 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quickstep-Innergetic 25 David Kopp (Ger) Gerolsteiner 4.22 26 Roger Hammond (GBr) T-Mobile 27 Michael Schär (Swi) Astana 28 Dmitriy Muravyev (Kaz) Astana 29 Erik Zabel (Ger) Milram 30 Igor Abakoumov (Bel) Astana 31 Gabriele Balducci (Ita) Acqua & Sapone-Caffè Mokambo 32 Tomas Vaitkus (Ltu) Discovery Channel 33 Renaud Dion (Fra) Ag2r Prévoyance 34 Nikolas Maes (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen 35 Luke Roberts (Aus) Team CSC 36 Fabio Baldato (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 37 Jimmy Casper (Fra) Unibet.com 38 Maarten Den Bakker (Ned) Skil-Shimano 39 Bert Roesems (Bel) Predictor-Lotto 40 Gianni Meersman (Bel) Discovery Channel 41 Leon Van Bon (Ned) Rabobank 42 Frédéric Guesdon (Fra) Française Des Jeux 43 Steve Cummings (GBr) Discovery Channel 44 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 45 Steven De Jongh (Ned) Quickstep-Innergetic 46 Leif Hoste (Bel) Predictor-Lotto 4.27 47 Wim Vansevenant (Bel) Predictor-Lotto 6.42 48 Wim De Vocht (Bel) Predictor-Lotto 49 Gerben Löwik (Ned) Rabobank 50 Daniel Lloyd (GBr) DFL-Cyclingnews-Litespeed 51 Kevin Hulsmans (Bel) Quickstep-Innergetic 52 Sven Krauss (Ger) Gerolsteiner 11.42 53 Fumiyuki Beppu (Jpn) Discovery Channel 54 Floris Goesinnen (Ned) Skil-Shimano 55 Tom Stamsnijder (Ned) Gerolsteiner 56 Niki Terpstra (Ned) Milram 57 Marco Cavallari (Ita) Acqua & Sapone-Caffè Mokambo 58 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun) Crédit Agricole 59 Jörg Ludewig (Ger) Wiesenhof-Felt 60 Bas Giling (Ned) Wiesenhof-Felt 61 Stefan Van Dijck (Ned) Wiesenhof-Felt 62 Kurt Hovelynck (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen 63 Aart Vierhouten (Ned) Skil-Shimano 64 Jan Kuyckx (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Tönissteiner 65 Filip Meirhaeghe (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Tönissteiner 66 Vytautas Kaupas (Ltu) Jartazi Promo Fashion 67 Thomas Fothen (Ger) Gerolsteiner 68 Rony Martias (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 69 Franck Renier (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 70 Ludovic Auger (Fra) Française Des Jeux 71 Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) Skil-Shimano 72 Bert Grabsch (Ger) T-Mobile 73 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) T-Mobile 74 Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner 75 Marcus Ljungqvist (Swe) Team CSC 76 Felix Odebrecht (Ger) Wiesenhof-Felt 77 Matti Breschel (Den) Team CSC 78 Massimiliano Mori (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 79 Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 80 Martin Müller (Swi) Milram 81 Enrico Poitschke (Ger) Milram 82 Jérôme Vincent (Fra) 83 Marcel Sieberg (Ger) Milram 84 Matthew Wilson (Aus) Unibet.com 85 Artur Gajek (Ger) Wiesenhof-Felt 86 Hilton Clarke (Aus) Navigators Insurance 87 Nico Mattan (Bel) DFL-Cyclingnews-Litespeed 88 Frédéric Amorison (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Tönissteiner 89 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) Predictor-Lotto 90 William Bonnet (Fra) Crédit Agricole 91 Koen De Kort (Ned) Astana 92 Pedro Horrillo (Spa) Rabobank 93 Sébastien Hinault (Fra) Crédit Agricole 94 Benoît Joachim (Lux) Astana 95 Guennadi Mikhailov (Rus) Astana 96 Daniele Righi (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 97 Sébastien Minard (Fra) Cofidis 98 Jonathan Hivert (Fra) Crédit Agricole 99 Kevin Van Impe (Bel) Quickstep-Innergetic Starters 194
