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61st Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne - 1.1
Belgium, March 2, 2008
De Jongh puts icing on Quick Step's cake
Langeveld left for second while Dutchman wins for second time in Kuurne
By Gregor Brown and Brecht Decaluwé in Kuurne
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Dutchman Steven De Jongh put the icing on the Quick Step cake by going free in the finale of the 61st Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne and winning the two-up sprint against 23 year-old Sebastian Langeveld (Rabobank). The 34 year-old, winner in 2004, was part of the successful move that formed when all six of his team-mates put the hammer down at 80 kilometres remaining of the 193-kilometre semi-classic. Australian Matthew Goss (Team CSC) finished third over last year's winner, Tom Boonen (Quick Step), and Italian Enrico Franzoi (Liquigas).
The finale was marked by attacks from Leif Hoste (Silence-Lotto) and De Jongh's team-mate Gert Steegmans, but it was the rider who first made his mark in the 1999 Tirreno-Adriatico that took advantage of the final move of his younger compatriot when riding free at more than one kilometre out. With Quick Step members breathing down the duo's back, De Jongh played cool until the final 150 metres to open his sprint from off the left side of Brugsesteenweg. "What could I do, but follow," De Jongh said of the team tactics.
"We're used to that pressure in our team," confirmed De Jongh to Cyclingnews' Brecht Decaluwé. "The last time I won here I was very nervous and I remember I was shouting to my team-mates that they had to keep it all together because nobody would beat me; it was cold and wet day and eventfully I beat Bettini and O'Grady in a bunch sprint."
"Second place was the highest result possible," said the young second place finisher. "I knew that De Jongh was faster in the sprint. I asked him once to take pulls, but he didn't want to, understandably. I decided to continue and go full out. Quick Step could gamble on Boonen. Much more than this second place wasn't realistic for me, but I'm happy with my race and my weekend." He finished over six minutes back in yesterday's Omloop Het Volk.
World Champion Paolo Bettini was not there to help with the Quick Step team tactics due to a crash at kilometre nine. After the crash, the 33 year-old Italian abandoned the race; he is reported with pain on his left shin and an aching back, but nothing serious, according to the team's press agent, Alessandro Tegner.
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It took some time, after the turn-around point in Brussel, but finally an escape formed. A nine-man move formed before the first of the closing seven hellingen containing Manuel Quinziato (Liquigas), Matthew Goss (Team CSC), Steven Cozza (Slipstream Chipotle - H30), Serge Pauwels (Topsport Vlaanderen), Jeremy Hunt (Crédit Agricole), Aurélien Clerc (Bouygues Telecom), Grégory Habeaux (Mitsubishi-Jartazi), David Kopp (Cycle Collstrop) and Wim De Vocht (Silence-Lotto). It was the first three, Italian Quinziato, Goss and USA's Cozza, that showed they had the biggest engines for the day by continuing to fight when the Quick Step bridged with 69 kilometres remaining.
Goss played his cards well in the finale to arrive on the podium in Kuurne. While Quick Step was charging, Hoste, Langeveld and Frederik Willems (Liquigas) attacking, the 21 year-old rider from Tasmania kept his head down and legs 'fresh.' for the sprint. "It was a long day," said Goss. "I am not sure if I could have won against Boonen, but maybe one day I can win [a race like this]."
"I was in the attack from the eightieth kilometre on but still managed a third place; it was indeed a long day for me. The third pro did what he could when Quick Step roared past, "On the Oude Kwaremont I managed to hitch my wagon on the Quick Step train." He concluded on a high note, "there'll be a day that I sprint for the victory. This was only my second race of the season. I love these races; I'm happy with this result."
While Goss lacked team support, Quinziato had Willems and Enrico Franzoi for support. "Yesterday, it did not go so well for me and so for this reason, today, I anticipated to go in the escape," the 28 year-old explained. "However, it was really an exhausting experience because I was having stomach problems all week and the legs, unfortunately, don't do so well like this. ... For the next races I hope to recuperate and arrive here in a month, ready to do battle at 100 percent - in De Panne and Flanders." His next race will be Tirreno-Adriatico.
Just like in Het Volk the day before, new outfit Slipstream-Chipotle made the key move of the day. Michael Friedman worked wonders for the argyle squad 24 hours previously and today it was the turn of Steven Cozza, who is most recognisable by his moustache. The rider who turns 23 years old tomorrow, fought back a hunger-knock after being dropped in the Nokereberg to finish strongly for the USA Professional Continental team of Jonathan Vaughters.
"It was a good day, but tough," said Cozza. "For sixty kilometres I did not have water or food because the cobblestones knocked them out on the Oude Kwaremont; that was very tough. Finally, with 20 kilometres to go I pounded down three water bottles and five Clif Shots."
"After the chase bridged up to us, the group of around 30 split in half on a crosswind section. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, without gas." Cozza, like Quinziato, will race in the Tirreno-Adriatico next.
How it unfolded
194 riders rolled out of the start in Kuurne at 12.00; not starting were Bert Grabsch (High Road), Marcel Sieberg (High Road) and William Frischkorn (Slipstream Chipotle - H30). Cloudy skies and blustery winds faced the riders, who were wearing vests while the temperatures were around 8°C.
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Bettini did not have the best start to his classics season; he crashed yesterday behind Wilfried Cretskens (Quick Step), but was able to finish; however, today, he went down in an incident at kilometre nine with Adam Hansen (High Road), Aivaras Baranauskas (Roubaix Lille Metropole) and Nicolas Jalabert (Agritubel). The 33 year-old Italian preferred to call it quits rather then ride to Brussel and back.
Sixty-five kilometres into the race, at an average speed of 51 kilometre per hour, the peloton, which was just on the outside of Ninove city centre, was still complete. Bart Dockx (Silence-Lotto), Geert Omloop (Mitsubishi-Jartazi) and Martin Velits (Team Milram) crashed at a roundabout, just after the first helling of the day, the Edelareberg. The race had travelled the farthest east it would go, to the Brussel turning point. It was now heading back towards Kuurne, with seven more hellingen; the La Houppe (km 91), Kanarieberg (km 99), Kruisberg (km 103), Oude Kwaremont (km 110), Cote Du Trieu (km 124), Tiegemberg (km 135) and Nokereberg (km 146).
With 107 kilometres to go, before the La Houppe, a move finally had formed off the front of the peloton: Quinziato, Pauwels, Goss, Cozza, Hunt, Clerc, Habeaux and Kopp. The nine-man move had 1'30" in hand and looked to be the day's escape. It was whittled down when Clerc, Kopp, Habeaux and Hunt found the going too tough on the La Houppe as they drifted out the back; this was the same climb where Quick Step had hammered the day before in Omloop Het Volk.
And it was appropriately this super-team, Quick Step, was leading the charge towards the foot of the Oude Kwaremont. The boys had to redeem themselves for yesterday's complete blow-out, and with no one in the escape it was crushing the gap. With 80 kilometres to go, in Breuk, the five men only had 32 seconds in hand.
The gap was closed on the Kwaremont. Silence-Lotto was now making some noise with Quick Step on the front of peloton, charging its way up the 1200-metre pavé climb. Big Steegmans went to the front and hit the turbo to blow the chase apart; Belgian Champion Stijn Devolder (Quick Step) was there with a select group of ten that was now picking up the escapees.
The group of 11, with five Quick Steps, now had about 12 seconds. The race was charging and reshaping on the way to the 2200-metre Mont du Trieu. In the move with Quick Step's Boonen, Steegmans and Devolder were Cozza, Hoste, Goss and Spaniard Juan Antonio Flecha (Rabobank). The gap to the front runners was closed, at 69 kilometres remaining, leaving the group of nearly 30 being chased by a Cofidis-led peloton at 50 seconds back.
Serguei Ivanov (Astana) gave up trying to bridge the growing gap to the lead group of nearly 35 riders. "They tried to control all day, but it is good, they are a strong team," he confirmed to Cyclingnews after the race. "And given the situation now, for the team it is very important that I am in top position for these races."
The race was now going full bore – led by the boys in white and blue – towards the 3100-metre Tiegemberg and the finish in Kuurne. Quick step had all of its men on the front working to stretch out the race and drop the weak. From the order of the train – at 57km to go and 1'29" lead – it looked like Devolder and Boonen were the protected riders.
With 50 kilometres and the Nokereberg to go, Liquigas was putting its green machine into gear. Enrico Franzoi and Frederik Willems were hitting the accelerator for sprint-ace Manuel Quinziato. Robert Amadio's boys were helping to thin out the bunch by dropping riders, including former winner Roy Sentjens (Silence-Lotto).
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Coming off the 300-metre Nokereberg, the game was looking grim for many; early escapee Steven Cozza was finally shown the back door with Milram's Markus Eichler.
Quick Step's charge continued over the next ten kilometres; the team wanted the win, and it was to be sure that some of the riders in the chase group at 1'10", like Thor Hushovd (Crédit Agricole), did not make it back to the front. The lead group, just over 20, also included Frédéric Guesdon (Française des Jeux), Christophe Mengin (Française des Jeux), Nicolas Jalabert (Agritubel), Frédéric Amorison (Landbouwkrediet-Tönissteiner) and Bobbie Traksel (P3Transfer - Batavus).
The tension was rising, and with about 16 kilometres to go Jalabert hit the deck when his tire got caught in a concrete gap. The Frenchman bridged back, but just as Flecha decided to launch a move. It did not work, but it signified the beginning of the end. Willems led a small group of five riders with Devolder; they were pegged back right as Guesdon went.
Langeveld then launched his first attack at eight kilometres to go, but Quick Step was quickly back in control. Flemish Favourite, Hoste, then fired at six kilometres remaining, and Steegmans' reacted for Quick Step. This seemed to be the winning attack, but with Willems and Amorison closing it did not last.
Langeveld gave it his final push with De Jongh in tow. The boys were able to hold on to their freedom to fight out the win on Brugsesteenweg.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net
- Steven De Jongh profited from a super strong Quick Step performance to take his second career victory in Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne.
- De Jongh beat Rabobank youngster Sebastian Langeveld across the line.
- Not your average winner's trophy but it gets a kiss nonetheless...
- Somewhere in there is the World Champion Paolo Bettini (Quick Step).
- Bettini wasn't happy about crashing after just 9km, but fortunately his injuries weren't serious.
- The Italian was taken to hospital as a precaution but is expected to resume training tomorrow.
- Matthew Goss (Team CSC) wins the group sprint for third; a great replace for the young Aussie.
Images by AFP Photo
- The podium in Kuurne (l-r): Sebastian Langeveld (Rabobank), Steven De Jongh (Quick Step) and Matthew Goss (Team CSC).
- Nicolas Jalabert (Agritubel) crashed twice today and still finished in the top 10.
- Steven De Jongh (Quick Step) celebrates his first victory of 2008.
Images by Brecht Decaluwé/Cyclingnews.com
- No riders yet at the hippodrome in Kuurne, but the fans could watch some cartoons from Nesten.
- The first riders arrive at the sign-on in Kuurne.
- At the start in Kuurne: Cadel Evans drawn by Nesten.
- At the start in Kuurne: Robbie McEwen drawn by Nesten - in reality McEwen cancelled his participation for Kuurne.
- Local boy Leif Hoste (Silence-Lotto) arrived in Kuurne with Gorik Gardeyn (Silence-Lotto)..
- The last Belgian Tour de France winner Lucien Van Impe; he is now manager in the Willems Veranda team.
- 'Meatball' Michael Friedman (Slipstream Chipotle - H30) has a special plate on his bike.
- Johnny Weltz talked a little with Cyclingnews about his team's performance.
- Waiting for your heroes, sometimes it takes a while.
- The local brass band playing Makin' some noise.
- Steven Cozza (Slipstream Chipotle - H30) is becoming a popular man in Flanders.
- Markus Eichler (Team Milram) finished 14th in the Omloop Het Volk despite a little cold.
- Wim De Vocht (Silence-Lotto) became father of daughter Gitte on Tuesday.
- Jimmy Casper (Agritubel) is back on the bike after his crash in Gent-Wevelgem last year.
- Tom Boonen (Quick Step) took his time to sign autographs and have a talk with the press.
- Leif Hoste (Silence-Lotto) is always one of the last riders to leave for the start.
- And off they go for a trip to Brussels, and back.
- Steven Cozza takes a turn from Jimmy Casper in the chase behind the breakaway.
- Bobbie Traksel claimed seventh place in the sprint for third, finishing as first non-ProTour rider.
- Karsten Kroon finished eighth in Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne and should be ready for the Spring Classics.
- Leif Hoste had an eye on the victory today, but Get Steegmans brought him back in the final kilometres.
- Sergey Ivanov pulled off a 'chasse patat', he tried to bridge up with the leaders who were 50" further up the road but was blown back a little later.
Images by Gregor Brown/Cyclingnews.com
- Steven Cozza (Slipstream Chipotle - H30) made the escape of the day and then finished well for the USA team.
- Frederik Willems (Liquigas) animated the finale.
- Steven De Jongh (Quick Step) explains how he won the race for a second time.
- Leif Hoste (Silence-Lotto) attacked in the finale but was marked by Quick Step.
Images by Nicolas Götz/www.sport-phot.com
- Geert Omloop (Mitsubichi-Jartazi) feels the pressure...
- Niki Terpstra (Team Milram) before the start.
- Gorik Gardeyn (Silence-Lotto) before the start.
- World Champion Paolo Bettini (Quick-Step) seems happy on the start line under a sunny sky.
- Juan Antonio Flecha (Rabobank) on the start line.
- Maarten Wynants and his team Quick-Step attacking on the Kwarémont.
- Stijn Devolder (Quick-Step) just behind Marteen Wynants at the head of the peloton.
- All seems OK for Tom Boonen behind Devolder and Wynants in the Kwarémont.
- Juan Antonio Flecha (Rabobank ) in the Kwaremont.
- It's seems hard for Roy Sentjens (Silence-Lotto) on the Kwaremont.
- Roger Hammond (High Road) on the Kwarémont.
Results
1 Steven De Jongh (Ned) Quick Step 4.27.03 (43,362 km/h) 2 Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) Rabobank 0.02 3 Matthew Goss (Aus) Team CSC 0.04 4 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step 5 Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Liquigas 6 Borut Bozic (Slo) Cycle Collstrop 7 Bobbie Traksel (Ned) P3Transfer - Batavus 8 Karsten Kroon (Ned) Team CSC 9 Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Agritubel 10 Frédéric Amorison (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Tönissteiner 11 Maarten Wynants (Bel) Quick Step 12 Frédéric Guesdon (Fra) Française des Jeux 13 Christophe Mengin (Fra) Française des Jeux 14 Juan Antonio Flecha (Spa) Rabobank 15 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Quick Step 16 Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Quick Step 17 Frederik Willems (Bel) Liquigas 0.12 18 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas 0.18 19 Gert Steegmans (Bel) Quick Step 0.29 20 Leif Hoste (Bel) Silence-Lotto 0.40 21 Jurgen Van de Walle (Bel) Quick Step 4.03 22 Jimmy Casper (Fra) Agritubel 4.49 23 Yoann Offredo (Fra) Française des Jeux 24 Steven Cozza (USA) Slipstream Chipotle - H30 25 Serge Pauwels (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen 26 Martin Elmiger (Swi) Ag2r-La Mondiale 27 Roy Sentjens (Bel) Silence-Lotto 4.56 28 Martyn Maaskant (Ned) Slipstream Chipotle - H30 4.57 29 Anthony Ravard (Fra) Agritubel 30 Dries Devenyns (Bel) Silence-Lotto 31 Joost Posthuma (Ned) Rabobank 5.07 32 Markus Eichler (Ger) Team Milram 33 Gregory Rast (Swi) Astana 34 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole 35 Aurélien Clerc (Swi) Bouygues Telecom 7.38 36 Kenny De Haes (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen 37 Jurgen François (Bel) Willems Veranda's Continental Team 38 Sjef De Wilde (Bel) Willems Veranda's Continental Team 39 Steven Caethoven (Bel) Agritubel 40 Jacob Nielsen (Den) Glud & Marstrand Horsens 41 Timothy Gudsell (NZl) Française des Jeux 42 Kenny Van Braeckel (Bel) Willems Veranda's Continental Team 43 Yuriy Krivtsov (Ukr) Ag2r-La Mondiale 44 Wim Botman (Ned) P3Transfer - Batavus 45 Frederik Nolf (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen 46 Maxime Vantomme (Bel) Mitsubishi-Jartazi 47 Kristof De Zutter (Bel) Willems Veranda's Continental Team 48 Andy Cappelle (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Tönissteiner 49 Wouter Mol (Ned) P3Transfer - Batavus 50 Detlef Moerman (Bel) Willems Veranda's Continental Team 51 Roger Hammond (GBr) High Road 52 Fredrik Johansson (Swe) Differdange-Apiflo Vacances 53 Jarno Van Mingeroet (Bel) Mitsubishi-Jartazi 54 Gabriel Rasch (Nor) Crédit Agricole 55 Michael Friedman (USA) Slipstream Chipotle - H30 56 Sébastien Delfosse (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Tönissteiner 57 Sergey Kolesnikov (Rus) Cycle Collstrop 58 Jason Donald (USA) Slipstream Chipotle - H30 59 Arnoud Van Groen (Ned) P3Transfer - Batavus 60 Loyd Mondory (Fra) Ag2r-La Mondiale 61 Olivier Kaisen (Bel) Silence-Lotto 62 James Vanlandschoot (Bel) Mitsubishi-Jartazi 63 Ralf Grabsch (Ger) Team Milram 64 Benoît Joachim (Lux) Astana 65 Robert Wagner (Ger) Skil-Shimano 66 Emilien-Benoît Berges (Fra) Agritubel 67 Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel) Ag2r-La Mondiale 68 Fumiyuki Beppu (Jpn) Skil-Shimano 69 Gerben Löwik (Ned) Rabobank 70 Anders Lund (Den) Team CSC 71 Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) Team CSC 72 Michael Schär (Swi) Astana 73 André Greipel (Ger) High Road 74 Christophe Laurent (Fra) Slipstream Chipotle - H30 75 Sébastien Turgot (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 76 Martin Velits (Svk) Team Milram 77 Tyler Farrar (USA) Slipstream Chipotle - H30 78 Mathieu Claude (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 79 Bas Giling (Ned) Cycle Collstrop 80 Bart Vanheule (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen 81 Michal Golas (Pol) Cycle Collstrop 82 Franck Renier (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 83 Marcus Ljungqvist (Swe) Team CSC 84 Kenny Van Der Schueren (Bel) Cycle Collstrop 85 Arnaud Labbe (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 86 Mikel Gaztañaga Echeverria (Spa) Agritubel 87 Alexandre Usov (Blr) Ag2r-La Mondiale 88 Max Van Heeswijk (Ned) Willems Veranda's Continental Team 89 Francis De Greef (Bel) Silence-Lotto 90 Frederik Veuchelen (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen 91 Yauheni Hutarovich (Blr) Française des Jeux 92 Roy Curvers (Ned) Skil-Shimano 93 Mathew Hayman (Aus) Rabobank 94 Allan Johansen (Den) Team CSC 95 Jurgen Van Loocke (Bel) Willems Veranda's Continental Team 96 Mathieu Ladagnous (Fra) Française des Jeux 97 Hervé Duclos-Lassalle (Fra) Cofidis 98 Yohann Gène (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 99 Renaud Dion (Fra) Ag2r-La Mondiale 100 Guennadi Mikhailov (Rus) Mitsubishi-Jartazi 101 Bert Scheirlinckx (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Tönissteiner 102 Martin Müller (Ger) Team Milram 103 Matthé Pronk (Ned) Cycle Collstrop 104 Serguei Ivanov (Rus) Astana 105 Tristan Valentin (Fra) Cofidis 106 Steven Kleynen (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Tönissteiner 107 Sébastien Hinault (Fra) Crédit Agricole 108 Andreas Klier (Ger) High Road 109 Matti Breschel (Den) Team CSC 110 David Kopp (Ger) Cycle Collstrop 111 Igor Abakoumov (Bel) Mitsubishi-Jartazi 112 Stefan Van Dijck (Ned) Mitsubishi-Jartazi 113 Huub Duyn (Ned) Slipstream Chipotle - H30 114 Floris Goesinnen (Ned) Skil-Shimano 115 Grégory Habeaux (Bel) Mitsubishi-Jartazi 116 Nico Eeckhout (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen 117 Sébastien Chavanel (Fra) Française des Jeux 118 Piet Rooijakkers (Ned) Skil-Shimano 119 Enrico Poitschke (Ger) Team Milram 120 Arnaud Gerard (Fra) Française des Jeux 121 Sebastian Siedler (Ger) Skil-Shimano 122 Bram Tankink (Ned) Rabobank 123 Benjamin Gourgue (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Tönissteiner 124 Tom Veelers (Ned) Skil-Shimano 125 Steven Tronet (Fra) Roubaix Lille Metropole 126 Bastien Delrot (Fra) Roubaix Lille Metropole 127 Florian Vachon (Fra) Roubaix Lille Metropole 128 Ger Soepenberg (Ned) P3Transfer - Batavus 129 Marco Marcato (Ita) Cycle Collstrop 130 Sébastien Minard (Fra) Cofidis 131 William Bonnet (Fra) Crédit Agricole 132 Rik Verbrugghe (Bel) Cofidis 133 Aart Vierhouten (Ned) P3Transfer - Batavus 134 Kevin Ista (Bel) Agritubel 135 Preben Van Hecke (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen 136 Jeremy Hunt (GBr) Crédit Agricole 137 Angelo Furlan (Ita) Crédit Agricole
