Dwars Door Vlaanderen

[theyoungest]

Excellent win for Breschel.

Rabo looking strong overall, but they don't quite have that top rider to match with Boonen or Cancellara.

 

[Ibanez]

Yep, QS are ALWAYS the team with numbers in the front group, they dropped the ball big time today.

 

[Jamsque]

Where were Devolder and Chavanel? I don't think I saw either of them for the entire race.

 

[Sasquatch]

Spartacus 4 Flanders and Roubaix.

 

[theyoungest]

Where were Devolder and Chavanel? I don't think I saw either of them for the entire race.

They mentioned Devolder was in difficulty pretty early on, don't know about Chavanel though.

 

[WinterRider]

Yipes, was watching the streaming feed on http://www.vshare.tv/live/212946/CTM55/1 and all of a sudden it popped up a bunch of porn links just as my boss was having a chat with me.

Was it worth it to watch the end of the race?

 

[Cerberus]

Just watched the replay and Breschel hardly attacked. It's more like he just Cancellara just stopped pealing and no one took up the lead.

 

[ak-zaaf]

Just watched the replay and Breschel hardly attacked. It's more like he just Cancellara just stopped pealing and no one took up the lead.

Yep, just switched to the other side of the road.

 

[bicing]

Just watched the replay and Breschel hardly attacked. It's more like he just Cancellara just stopped pealing and no one took up the lead.

Thats what I was thinking when it was live. It was like he was attacking in slow motion. The other riders clearly didn't care to chase, anyone could have shut down the attack.

 

[Jamsque]

It wasn't a very fast move, yes, but remember that Cancellara had been doing his very best motorbike impersonation over the cobbles for the previous 5km, so I think everyone wanted a bit of a rest.

 

[theyoungest]

Thats what I was thinking when it was live. It was like he was attacking in slow motion. The other riders clearly didn't care to chase, anyone could have shut down the attack.

Haha, they didn't care to chase... Cancellara had just destroyed them, Breschel was the only one who could really accelerate.

 

[bicing]

Everyone could see it was the winning move, if they cared they would have done something... and if Breschel pulled away like that then I'm sure others could have too.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Nobody wanted to do the work and Breschel got a gap...and they never saw him again.

Cancellara only countered the serious men like Boonen and Flecha, he probably knew guys like Leukemans and Terpstra would never close the gap.

Nice teamwork by Saxo Bank.

Quick Step, Omega Pharma and Rabobank were all dissapointing as teams.

 

[theyoungest]

Quick Step, Omega Pharma and Rabobank were all dissapointing as teams.

I actually thought Rabo was decent, but like I said, they don't have that top rider who can really go with the likes of Boonen and Canc.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

1 - Breschel
2 - Leukemans
3 - Terpstra
4 - Chainel
5 - Hayman
6 - Paolini
7 - Mol
8 - Veelers
9 - Vandenbergh
10 - Bonnet

Apart from Breschel, who did a great ride, not a great top 10 like always

E3 Prijs is the real test

 

[DamonAlbarn]

From Saxo Bank's page

"The Danish national champion, Matti Breschel determinedly broke clear of the group with 22 kilometers to go and Fabian Cancellara found a favorable position in the wheel of Tom Boonen (Quick Step). At the same time, the group with Baden Cooke and Frank Høj emerged from behind and joined the Cancellara-group.

A small group came very close to Matti Breschel who fought heroically in the front of the race. But no one was able to stop the strong Dane who crossed the finish line in solitude taking the victory in Dwars door Vlaanderen.

”We knew we had the strength to do it and eventually it was a question of how to put in the crucial attack. Fabian approached me and said that he would help me today and he asked me to stay in his wheel. Then he put up an incredible pace in the front of the group. As he let go of the front, I launched a counter-attack and the gap was created immediately. On my way to the finish line, Torsten (Schmidt, sports director) gave me the confidence to believe I could go all the way. The victory is important to me and to the team and it provides us with the confidence we need to succeed in the next races. Today's race also proves that we have two cards to play in the upcoming classics and we are not just in perfect shape. Our team spirit is intact,” says Matti Breschel after his great victory."

 

[Christian]

I'm happy for Breschel and the Saxo boys - I think they really needed a win!

 

[Colm.Murphy]

Sure did. Just read the write-up, sounds like CSC, though quiet, will be ready for the northern classics. Cancellara should be quite dangerous in small group as the races down to 40km to go.

 

[TRDean]

@TRDean:
Think I saw 2 Skil guys in the big group.
Should be Veelers and De Kort.

Thanks a million! I had to step out and missed the action!! My loss...I appreciate all the updates you guys give!

 

[Bike Boy]

YES!!!!

Can't resist the urge to express my joy.

It's a big win but more importantly in will boost Breschel's self-esteem, so now he will be more confident that he can take a monument

 

[Anonymous]

Great win by Matti B. and Saxo...wonderful to see Cancellara backing him up all the way and playing spoiler...good race all around!

 

[BroDeal]

Nobody wanted to do the work and Breschel got a gap...and they never saw him again.

Cancellara only countered the serious men like Boonen and Flecha, he probably knew guys like Leukemans and Terpstra would never close the gap.

Nice teamwork by Saxo Bank.

This is good for Saxo, and it bodes well for April. Saxo really needs to do well in order to help Riis in his sponsor search.

 

[Anonymous]

Some sky-biased photos from todays race

Neil's blog will be tommorow with another fans view of the race, he did a great job managing the start, finish and points in between as in Omloop. What you can do with a good satnav.

 

[Tom T.]

Very surprised at Quick-Step's lack of numbers up front. It was Boonen and that's it. Maybe they were totally sandbagging.....I can't believe Devolder and Chavanel are in such bad form, finishing 4:22 back. Could be a Boonen, Cance, Breschel, Pozzato show in Flanders.

 

[auscyclefan94]

they were invited. then said they weren't sending any big names so the organizers took that invite away (f.e imo show some respect to the race). It's a nice race, ballan and hincapie should have been motivated to race here.

Well, i guess they have been doing a bit of racing so they don't want to tire themselves out esp. when you have E3 Prijs the day before Gent Wevelgem.