Tour of Belgium - 2.1

Belgium, May 28-June 1, 2008

Photography

Stage 5 - June 3: Buggenhout - Putte, 185.1 km

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Images by AFP Photo

• Tom Boonen (Quick Step) takes the final stage of the Tour of Belgium.

Images by Yoni Peeters/cyclingpictures.be

• Greg Van Avermaet (Silence - Lotto) took the points competition in his home tour.
• Stijn Devolder (Quick Step) with the mountains jersey.
• The three jersey wearers (l-r): Geert Omloop (Sprint), Devolder (Overall & Mountains) & Van Avermaet (Points).
• Devolder gives a post race interview.
• Fabio Polazzi (Bodysol - Euro Millions - Pôle Continental Wallon) wore the points jersey going into the final stage.
• The leaders line up for the last stage.
• Niko Eeckhout (Topsport Vlaanderen) was part of the days break.
• The two big Belgian teams were active at the front of the field.
• The five breakaway riders, including Sven Nys (third wheel) in his new team colours.
• The field was lead over the line with a lap to go by a Skil rider.
• Boonen took the final stage while his team-mate the overall.
• Devolder enjoys Coke!
• Boonen after his win.
• Boonen on the podium.
• The top three overall (l-r): Greg Van Avermaet (Silence - Lotto), Stijn Devolder (Quick Step) & Sergei Ivanov (Astana).

Stage 4 - June 2: Herzele (ITT), 16.7 km

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Images by Yoni Peeters/www.CyclingPictures.Be

• Jens Mouris (Mitsubishi-Jartazi) had the fastest time for much of the day.
• Tom Boonen (Quick Step) was on cruise control today and finished 1'26 down.
• Tomas Vaitkus (Astana) set the provisional best time at half distance but faded in the latter stages.
• Gert Steegmans (Quick Step) finished just in front of team-mate Tom Boonen.
• Carlos Barredo (Quick Step)
• Allan Davis (Mitsubishi-Jartazi) has one last chance for a stage victory tomorrow.
• Belgian time trial champion Leif Hoste (Silence-Lotto) went fast but couldn't crack the top three.
• Bram Tankink was the best placed Rabobank rider in 12th.
• Stijn Devolder (Quick Step) ripped up the TT course to place himself firmly in the leader's jersey.
• Greg Van Avermaert (Silence-Lotto) had no answer to Devolder's pace.
• Devolder checks his time at the finish.
• Stage winner Stijn Devolder has looked in excellent shape this week.
• Devolder looks secure in the leader's jersey with one stage remaining.
• Fabio Polazzi (Bodysol - Euro Millions) leads the sprints classification.
• Greg Van Avermaert kept the points jersey.
• And got a rather fetching wicker basket to boot.
• Cheer up Stijn, you could win the Tour of Belgium tomorrow...

Stage 3 - June 1: Anthisnes - Flemalle, 184.5 km

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• Greg Van Avermaet (Silence Lotto) takes the stage ahead of Stijn Devolder
• Greg Van Avermaet (Silence Lotto) took the points jersey.
• Stijn Devolder rolls in after losing to Van Avermaet

Images by Yoni Peeters/www.CyclingPictures.Be

• Stijn Devolder (Quick Step) attacks on a small climb.
• Belgian Stijn Devolder (Quick Step) leads the two person break away including Greg Van Avermaet (Silence - Lotto).
• Greg Van Avermaet (Silence - Lotto) claims the stage win over Belgium national champion Stijn Devolder (Quick Step).
• Salvatore Commesso (Preti Mangimi) was the seventh rider to cross the line.
• Italian Luca Celli (LPR Brakes) comes across the line 1.32 minutes behind.
• A Silence - Lotto team member leads Greg Van Avermaet to the podium after the Belgian's home soil win.
• Greg Van Avermaet (Silence - Lotto) waits on the podium following his stage three victory.
• Belgian Greg Van Avermaet (Silence - Lotto) thanks his home crowd after winning the stage.
• Greg Van Avermaet's (Silence - Lotto) stage win got the Belgian the tour's yellow jersey.
• Stijn Devolder (Quick Step) picked up the white jersey for his efforts on the stage,
• Belgian Stijn Devolder (Quick Step) gets ready to celebrate after collecting the white jersey.
• Fabio Polazzi (Bodysol - Euro Millions - Pôle Continental Wallon) picked up the sprint classification jersey.

Stage 2 - May 31: Eeklo - Tienen, 201 km

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• Boris Shpilevsky (Preti Mangimi) took the win in the Tour of Belgium's second stage.

Images by Yoni Peeters/cyclingpictures.be

• Roy Curvers (Skil-Shimano) and Fabio Polazzi (Bodysol) were the break of the day.
• Marco Zanotti points to Shpilevsky as if to say, he's the man!
• Boris Shpilevsky took the sprint and left a lot of people asking, who?
• Shpilevsky raises a toast to his stage win.
• Kenny Dehaes (Topsport) kept the overall lead.
• Fabio Polazzi (Bodysol) in the sprint leader's jersey.
• Allan Davis (Mitsubishi-Jartazi) took over the points classification.
• Roy Curvers (Skil-Shimano) got the climber's jersey.
• Shpilevsky is interviewed after his stage win.

Stage 1 - May 30: Eeklo - Eeklo, 180.5 km

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Images by AFP Photo

• Kenny de Haes wins the first stage after a wild bunch sprint on narrow roads.

Images by Yoni Peeters/cyclingpictures.be

• Gert Steegmans (Quick Step)
• Salvatore Commesso (Preti Mangimi) looking a bit gray in the beard.
• Robert Gesink (Rabobank)
• Tom Boonen (Quick Step) gets some mic time.
• Stijn Devolder, the Belgian champ is interviewed.
• David Boucher (Landbouwkrediet-Tönisteiner) was on the attack all day.
• Topsport takes the lead while Quick Step was slow to organize for the sprint.
• Dehaes was quick like a bunny in the sprint on stage one.
• Kenny Dehaes (Topsport Vlaanderen) in the leader's jersey after stage one.
• David Boucher (Landbouwkrediet) took home the sprint jersey and some prizes.
• Dehaes considers the questions of reporters at the press conference.