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93rd Ronde van Vlaanderen - ProT
Belgium, April 5, 2009
Devolder repeats win in Flanders
By Brecht Decaluwé in Meerbeke
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"This is unbelievable. I've lived up to this race for so long and I encountered a lot of bad luck," said Devolder. I worked hard with all the people that kept believing in me. I said I would win and I did it."
"It was very weird race. I was able to join [Tom] Boonen (Quick Step) and [Filippo] Pozzato (Team Katusha) after the Berendries, and then I pulled through toward the leaders. I recovered, and on the Muur, I played my last card," said Devolder.
"I'm planning to stay focused on this race during the next few years as the Ronde van Vlaanderen remains the most important race of the year for me," said Devolder.
An aggressive Heinrich Haussler (Cervélo TestTeam) anticipated the final sprint and escaped from the large chase group on the finishing straight to finish second. The bunch sprint was won by Philippe Gilbert (Silence-Lotto). Pozzato and Martijn Maaskant (Garmin - Slipstream) followed to finish fourth and fifth.
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After the race, favorite Boonen explained that racing for the victory wasn't possible for the day since the other top favorite, Pozzato, wasn't chasing any other wheel than his.
"The shadow," Boonen described Pozzato. "Everybody saw that we were killing each other. I couldn't drop him, and he couldn't drop me. When we attacked, we distanced everybody, but he didn't want to continue. So for me, the door was closed, but it opened the door for Stijn and Sylvain (Chavenel)."
"Boonen was the strongest, compliments to the Quick Step team," said Pozzato.
Fast start out of Brugge
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When approaching the first of the sixteen hellingen, the Molenberg, the peloton was riding ten minutes ahead of the fastest schedule. As a result, it took 125 kilometres before the first breakaway group was established, and it included just four riders: Wim De Vocht (Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team), Aleksandr Kuschynski (Liquigas), Sebastien Turgot (Bbox Bouygues Telecom) and Filip Meirhaeghe (Landbouwkrediet - Colnago).
Finale starts on Paterberg
Cervélo TestTeam showed its global strength as they lined up with five guys in front of the peloton approaching the Oude Kwaremont. The long, cobbled climb didn't appear to provide the expected spectacle at the front, but in fact, the action happened further back, where a tough selection separated the peloton into two groups.
Cervélo led the first part of the peloton toward the short, but extremely steep and cobbled Paterberg, and that's where the race exploded. About twenty riders distanced the rest, but clearly the favorites were still hesitating whether to go on or not.
Six men anticipated the Koppenberg and jumped away toward the two riders who were still left off the front. Right after the Kwaremont, Leif Hoste (Silence-Lotto), Frederic Guesdon (Française Des Jeux), Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step), Daniel Lloyd (Cervelo Test Team) and Marco Bandiera (Lampre - N.G.C.) drove the chase.
Boonen vs. Pozzato, part one: Koppenberg
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Eight kilometres later, the two jumped away from the peloton thanks to an acceleration from Boonen.
Only seventeen riders were able to bridge up with them before the eighth helling, the Eikenberg. That's also where early attacker De Vocht got dropped from the front, reducing the leader's group to seven riders. A group of about twenty riders joined the Boonen group, and on the Varent, a new climb, the peloton took it easy.
Going into the Leberg, the tenth climb of the day, the gap from the seven leaders grew to more than one minute.
Boonen vs. Pozzato, part two: Berendries
Upon reaching the Berendries, Chavanel, Manuel Quinziato (Liquigas) and Hoste dropped their four breakaway companions, but one minute later Pozzato copied the attack he had launched during the Driedaagse De Panne-Koksijde earlier this week. Boonen was glued to his wheel, and defending Flanders champion Devolder bridged up a little later.
The three chasers steamed towards the leaders, picked up Bandiera, and with 36 kilometers to go, right after the Valkenberg (climb number 12), they joined the front trio. This seven-man lead group didn't stay together for long as Quinziato sneaked away together with Chavanel.
Quick Step left the chasing initiative to the other riders and as a result, a small peloton gathered half a minute behind the two leaders on the steep Tenbosse street. Just past this climb, Preben Van Hecke (Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator) anticipated the next climb and jumped away from the peloton.
Quinziato and Chavanel arrived at the fourteenth climb, the Eikenmolen, with forty seconds on the reduced peloton.
The Muur: Devolder again
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Van Hecke bridged back up with Quinziato and Chavanel, but this trio soon trailed by half a minute the unleashed Devolder. The front group, including Boonen, followed at one minute behind Devolder.
The relative positions of the lead racers remained the same over the Bosberg despite efforts from Flecha and Gilbert in the peloton. Devolder was unstoppable and gathered up to one minute over the three chasers as he approached the Meerbeke.
Behind a celebrating Devolder, the chasing trio was reeled in by the peloton that would sprint for second place. Haussler anticipated the group's sprint and launched off the front to capture second place.
A serious crash ruined the chances of riders like Greg Van Avermaet (Silence-Lotto) and Gregory Rast (Astana). Gilbert captured third place ahead of Pozzato and Maaskant.
Video of the race's end
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by AFP Photo
- The peloton sets out on its journey through Vlaanderen
- Devolder repeated his win from 2008
- He dedicated his victory to Friederik Nolf, who died in February.
- Devolder with his prize
- Devolder was happy to have won again.
Images by Bjorn Haake/Cyclingnews.com
- Sébastien Portal (Cofidis) was leading the peloton in Gent.
- Maarten Wynants has to work early for his Quick Step team.
- Robert Hunter (Barloworld) hides in the peloton.
- The bunch took a sharp right after what is usually the finish line in the Omloop – or the Tour de France stages.
- Sébastien Hinault (AG2R La Mondiale) keeps warm on a day that would actually pass as acceptable (for most Belgians anyway...)
- George Hincapie and Edvald Boasson Hagen ride in the bunch for Columbia-Highroad.
- Marcus Burghardt (Columbia-Highroad) is saving energy for the moment in the back of the bunch.
- Joaquin Rojas Gil (Caisse d'Epargne) was a bit delayed but he has plenty of time to make up for it.
Images by Brecht Decaluwé / Cyclingnews
- This Quick Step jersey wasn't popular with the UCI before the start of the race.
- Team Quick Step proceeds to the sign in.
Images by Gregor Brown / Cyclingnews.com
- The canals of Brugge.
- Riders head to the sign in.
- Heinrich Haussler (Cervélo TestTeam)
- Diego Caccia (Barloworld)
- Patrick Lefevere could be happy with his team.
- Filippo Pozzato (Team Katusha) shadowed Tom Boonen but missed the race-winning move.
- Manuel Quinziato (Liquigas) had a good race over the dusty Flandrian roads.
- Steven Cozza (Garmin - Slipstream) was on the attack today.
- Roger Hammond (Cervélo TestTeam)
- Heinrich Haussler (Cervélo TestTeam) finished second
- Haussler said he was happy as he didn't have the legs today for more.
- Haussler can look forward to future races and he will surely win one soon.
Images by Sirotti/www.sirotti.it
- Always lots of people Molenberg.
- The peloton passes over the Molenberg which was the first climb of the day.
- Cervélo set the pace on the Oude Kwaremont.
- Karsten Kroon (Team Saxo Bank) on the Kwaremont.
- Hincapie pedals up on the Kwaremont.
- Dmitriy Muravyev (Astana) takes a spill on the Oude Kwaremont.
- The bunch passes through on the Oude Kwaremont.
- Boonen on the steep Paterberg
- Hincapie close to the top of the Paterberg.
- Chavanel reaches the top of the Paterberg.
- Haussler on the Paterberg
- Defending champion Devolder had to cross the Paterberg as well – no exceptions.
- Hincapie on the Taaienberg
- Boonen and Pozzato at the end of the Taaienberg.
- Pozzato on the attacked hard several times and here it was at the Berendries.
- Devolder jumps after Boonen and Pozzato on the Berendries.
- George Hincapie (Team Columbia - Highroad) shoulder to shoulder with Juan Antonio Flecha (Rabobank).
- Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) showed he is a serious contender for the Ronde.
- Philippe Gilbert (Silence-Lotto) tries to glimpse to the top.
- Devolder on his way to victory.
- Number one becomes number one once again.
- Gilbert powers to the Muur's top with Boonen behind.
- Stijn Devolder (Quick Step) on his decisive attack at the Muur van Geraardsbergen.
- Devolder close to the chapel on the top.
- Martijn Maaskant (Garmin) on the Muur
- Marcus Burghardt (Team Columbia - Highroad) powers up the Muur.
- Leif Hoste (Silence-Lotto) on the Muur
- Bert de Waele (Landbouwkrediet-Colnago) rides up the Muur with Leif Hoste.
- Manuel Quinziato (Liquigas) fights on the Muur.
- Tom Boonen (Quick Step) once again shadowed by Filippo Pozzato (Team Katusha).
- Devolder attacks on the steepest part of the Muur de Grammont.
- Devolder gets away from Quinziato
- The Italian fights but the Muur is steep
- Preben Van Hecke (Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator) motors up the Muur van Geraardsbergen
- Devolder celebrates his victory
- The Belgian took off and finished solo
- Heinrich Haussler (Cervélo TestTeam) slipped out of the chase group
- Haussler made it across the line just ahead of the guys sprinting behind
- Philippe Gilbert (Silence-Lotto) sprinted onto the podium
- Gilbert gave Silence-Lotto something to smile.
- Haussler finished second like in Milano-Sanremo.
- Stijn Devolder (Quick Step) in his retro shirt on the podium.
- Devolder waves the flowers
- The podium from left to right: Haussler (second), Devolder and Gilbert.
Images by James Huang/Cyclingnews
- Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) rode his heart out for the team.
- George Hincapie (Team Columbia - Highroad) after the race
- Filippo Pozzato (Team Katusha) said that Boonen was the strongest but the Quick Step team could pick its winner...
- Manuel Quinziato (Liquigas) did a great race but in the end he was not rewarded.
- Quinziato is interviewed by Alessandra Di Stefano from RAI
- Quinziato could be happy with his race.
- Philippe Gilbert (Silence-Lotto) did better than expected.
Images by Tim Van Wichelen /www.cyclingview.be
- Stijn Devolder (Quick Step) powers away on the last climb of the day, the Bosberg.
- The chasing group with Preben Vanhecke, Manuel Quinziato and Sylvain Chavanel.
- Juan Antonio Flecha (Rabobank) ws out of contention today, finishing 30th.
- Philippe Gilbert (Silence-Lotto) in his usual attacking mode.
- Tom Boonen and Filippo Pozzato were always set to duel in Flanders.
- George Hincapie and Marcus Burghardt keep it together for Columbia-Highroad.
Results
1 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Quick Step 6.01.04 (43,455 km/h) 2 Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Cervelo Test Team 0.59 3 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Silence-Lotto 4 Martijn Maaskant (Ned) Garmin - Slipstream 5 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Team Katusha 6 Matti Breschel (Den) Team Saxo Bank 7 Marcus Burghardt (Ger) Team Columbia - Highroad 8 Bjorn Leukemans (Bel) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team 9 Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2R La Mondiale 10 Bert De Waele (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - Colnago 11 Alexandre Pichot (Fra) BBox Bouygues Telecom 12 Johnny Hoogerland (Ned) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team 13 Roger Hammond (GBr) Cervelo Test Team 14 Karsten Kroon (Ned) Team Saxo Bank 15 Nick Nuyens (Bel) Rabobank 16 Roy Sentjens (Bel) Silence-Lotto 17 Kevin Van Impe (Bel) Quick Step 18 Frederik Willems (Bel) Liquigas 19 Bert Scheirlinckx (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - Colnago 20 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step 21 Gerben Löwik (Ned) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team 22 Staf Scheirlinckx (Bel) Silence-Lotto 23 Serguei Ivanov (Rus) Team Katusha 24 Andreas Klier (Ger) Cervelo Test Team 25 Preben Van Hecke (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator 26 Assan Bazayev (Kaz) Astana 27 Leif Hoste (Bel) Silence-Lotto 28 Paolo Longo Borghini (Ita) Barloworld 29 Frédéric Guesdon (Fra) Française Des Jeux 30 Juan Antonio Flecha (Spa) Rabobank 31 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Quick Step 1.08 32 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas 1.11 33 Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) Rabobank 1.14 34 George Hincapie (USA) Team Columbia - Highroad 1.44 35 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) Silence-Lotto 3.02 36 Anthony Geslin (Fra) Française Des Jeux 3.06 37 Murilo Fischer (Bra) Liquigas 3.17 38 Aleksandr Kuschynski (Blr) Liquigas 39 Bram Tankink (Ned) Rabobank 40 Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Quick Step 4.37 41 Marco Bandiera (Ita) Lampre - N.G.C. 42 Simon Spilak (Slo) Lampre - N.G.C. 43 Grégory Rast (Swi) Astana 4.57 44 Gabriel Rasch (Nor) Cervelo Test Team 5.38 45 Daniel Lloyd (GBr) Cervelo Test Team 46 Kristof Goddaert (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator 6.45 47 Saïd Haddou (Fra) BBox Bouygues Telecom 48 Steve Chainel (Fra) BBox Bouygues Telecom 49 Marcel Sieberg (Ger) Team Columbia - Highroad 50 Yoann Offredo (Fra) Française Des Jeux 51 Koldo Fernandez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 52 Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Skil-Shimano 53 Reto Hollenstein (Swi) Vorarlberg - Corratec 54 Michael Schär (Swi) Astana 55 Aart Vierhouten (Ned) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team 56 Imanol Erviti (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 57 Ermanno Capelli (Ita) Fuji-Servetto 58 Arnaud Labbe (Fra) BBox Bouygues Telecom 59 Maxim Iglinsky (Kaz) Astana 60 Mathew Hayman (Aus) Rabobank 61 Josep Jufre (Spa) Fuji-Servetto 62 Patrick Calcagni (Swi) Barloworld 63 Martin Velits (Svk) Team Milram 64 Johan Coenen (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator 65 Markel Irizar (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 66 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Team Columbia - Highroad 67 Matthew Goss (Aus) Team Saxo Bank 68 Wim De Vocht (Bel) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team 69 Nikolay Trusov (Rus) Team Katusha 70 Sébastien Hinault (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 71 Wim Van Huffel (Bel) Vorarlberg - Corratec 72 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Team Columbia - Highroad 73 Maarten Wynants (Bel) Quick Step 74 Kevin De Weert (Bel) Quick Step 75 Jeremy Hunt (GBr) Cervelo Test Team 76 Steven Cummings (GBr) Barloworld 77 Dmitriy Muravyev (Kaz) Astana 78 Lieuwe Westra (Ned) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team 79 Martin Müller (Ger) Team Milram 10.48 80 Huub Duyn (Ned) Garmin - Slipstream 12.32 81 Geert Verheyen (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - Colnago 82 Arnaud Gerard (Fra) Française Des Jeux 83 Marlon Perez (Col) Caisse d'Epargne 13.53 84 Pedro Horrillo (Spa) Rabobank 85 Servais Knaven (Ned) Team Milram 86 Mathieu Drujon (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne 87 Enrico Franzoi (Ita) Liquigas 88 Nikolas Maes (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator 89 Bert De Backer (Bel) Skil-Shimano 90 Koen Barbe (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - Colnago 91 Steven Cozza (USA) Garmin - Slipstream 92 Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) Team Saxo Bank 93 Geert Steurs (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator 94 Kevin Neirynck (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - Colnago 95 Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) Rabobank 96 Florent Brard (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne 97 Angel Gomez (Spa) Fuji-Servetto 98 Sébastien Minard (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne 99 Daryl Impey (RSA) Barloworld 100 Daniel Oss (Ita) Liquigas 101 Pieter Vanspeybrouck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator 102 Mathieu Claude (Fra) BBox Bouygues Telecom 103 Roy Curvers (Ned) Skil-Shimano 104 Jens Mouris (Ned) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team 105 Floris Goesinnen (Ned) Skil-Shimano 106 Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) Française Des Jeux 107 Christopher Sutton (Aus) Garmin - Slipstream 108 Matthieu Ladagnous (Fra) Française Des Jeux 109 Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Team Saxo Bank 110 Kasper Klostergaard Larsen (Den) Team Saxo Bank 111 Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Team Milram 112 Joost Posthuma (Ned) Rabobank 113 Rui Da Costa (Por) Caisse d'Epargne 114 Daniele Righi (Ita) Lampre - N.G.C. 115 Arnaud Coyot (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne 116 Daniele Nardello (Ita) Fuji-Servetto HD Gatis Smukulis (Lat) AG2R La Mondiale 18.50 HD Niki Terpstra (Ned) Team Milram HD Stijn Neirynck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator HD Svein Tuft (Can) Garmin - Slipstream 22.29 HD Philipp Ludescher (Aut) Vorarlberg - Corratec HD Diego Caccia (Ita) Barloworld HD Silvère Ackermann (Swi) Vorarlberg - Corratec HD Marcin Sapa (Pol) Lampre - N.G.C. HD Massimiliano Mori (Ita) Lampre - N.G.C. HD Aitor Galdos (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi HD Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne 26.32
