Monumental, Cancellara and Verbeke Take De Ronde
Molenberg Proves Crucial For Both Men and Women
It should come as no surprise that a man nicknamed Spartacus is quickly becoming a folk hero whose legend seems to grow with each victory. Fabian Cancellara (Team Saxo Bank) proved to be the strongest of an exceptional field, and cruised to his first Ronde van Vlaanderen victory ahead of Tom Boonen (Quick Step) and Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto). Cancellara would be the first Swiss rider to win the Ronde since Heinrich 'Heiri' Suter pulled off the feat in 1923.
"I suppose it was a perfect race," Cancellara would tell Cyclingnews immediately after the race. "Even my attacks were perfectly timed. Going on the Molenberg was the right moment and then I had to try on the Muur because that's where the legend and history of this race are made. When I realized I'd dropped Boonen it was like having wings on my feet and kept going all the way to the finish."
In winning his third monument [Paris-Roubaix (2006), Milano-San Remo (2008), and Ronde van Vlaanderen (2010)] Cancellara joins an elite group of cyclists, and is only two [Liège-Bastogne-Liège and Giro di Lombardia] from joining the Belgian trio of Eddy Merckx, Roger De Vlaeminck, and Rik Van Looy to have won all five monuments of cycling.
Results - Men
1. Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo Bank
2. Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step
3. Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto
Slipping Away?
Ever since George Hincapie (BMC Racing) arrived on the cycling scene, he has single-handedly carried, whether fairly or unfairly, American hopes in the Classics. He has triumphed in Gent-Wevelgem (2001) and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne (2002) and come agonizingly close to victory in the monuments, Ronde van Vlaanderen (third) and Paris-Roubaix (second). And whether in victory or defeat, Hincapie has shown the class that has endeared him to fans and competitors, alike.
But even at age 36, it seems that Hincapie is still waiting for something.
Hincapie would tell Velonews after Sunday's Flanders, “I’m disappointed. I had good legs on the Molenberg and I hesitated when Fabian and Tom went. That was a big mistake, and from then on everyone in the chase was watching each other. I got a little caught behind the breakaway guys we were catching on Molenberg, and that was a big mistake. I really think I could have gone there, but it’s Flanders, and you have to be 100 percent focused at all times. It’s really unfortunate, I think I could have gone with them. I had really good legs today.”
Yes, Hincapie finished in a more than respectable 6th placed this past Sunday, but ever since the 2001 "Hell of the North," a race in which Hincapie took the initiative but lost, he has seemed gun shy; waiting for the race to evolve rather than being an instigator of the outcome.
On a similar day in 2005, a day in which he clearly had the legs to claim the Ronde, Hincapie had to settle for third and once again face the glare of the post-race spotlights to answer the question of why his then Discovery Channel teammate, Leif Hoste, took the initiative to make the race rather than him. With another Queen of the Classics set to run this Sunday, and quite possibly one of the final time he faces the cobbles of Roubaix, let us hope that Big George can channel a little bit of his former boss, Lance Armstrong, and finally "stand up and slam his fist on the table."
Other Notables - Men
5. Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin - Transitions
6. George Hincapie (USA) BMC Racing Team
7. Roger Hammond (GBr) Cervelo Test Team
20. Marcus Burghardt (Ger) BMC Racing Team
24. Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Quick Step
25. Stijn Devolder (Bel) Quick Step
27. Lance Armstrong (USA) Team Radioshack
29. Leif Hoste (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto
34. Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Sky Professional Cycling Team
35. Alessandro Ballan (Ita) BMC Racing Team
42. Dominique Rollin (Can) Cervelo Test Team
48. Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo
53. Kurt Asle Arvesen (Nor) Sky Professional Cycling Team
57. Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team
DNF - Nick Nuyens (Bel) Rabobank
DNF - Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team HTC - Columbia
DNF - Robbie McEwen (Aus) Team Katusha
DNF - Servais Knaven (Ned) Team Milram
DNF - Baden Cooke (Aus) Team Saxo Bank
DNF - Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team Saxo Bank
DNF - Jackson Stewart (USA) BMC Racing Team
Vrouwen to Verbeke
Twenty-five year old, Grace Verbeke (Lotto Ladies Team), would take the biggest victory of her young career in front of a hometown Belgian crowd ahead of Marianne Vos (Nederland Bloeit) and Kirsten Wild (Cervelo TestTeam), who finished in second and third, respectively. Surprisingly, Verbeke would become the first Belgian ever to win the Tour of Flanders.
She would tell Cyclingnews, “On the Molenberg [the fourth climb, after 74km] I forced it, and went hard. "It was not the plan - I wanted to go on the Muur [-Kapelmuur, the eighth and penultimate climb, 16km from the finish] but it was very muddy and very tricky, so I just wanted to be first up. I forced it and when I looked back I had a nice gap, which was a surprise."
Results - Women
1. Grace Verbeke (Bel) Lotto Ladies Team
2. Marianne Vos (Ned) Nederland Bloeit
3. Kirsten Wild (Ned) Cervelo TestTeam
Defending Ronde champion, Ina Yoko Teutenberg (Team HTC-Columbia) finished in 21st, while Brooke Miller (Team TIBCO) would be the highest placed American in 13th place.
Other Notables - Women
4. Emma Johansson (Swe) Redsun Cycling Team
7. Noemi Cantele (Ita) HTC Columbia Women
8. Judith Arndt (Ger) HTC Columbia Women
13. Brooke Miller (USA) TIBCO
21. Ina Teutenberg (Ger) HTC Columbia Women
22. Rasa Leleivyte (Ltu) Safi - Pasta Zara
23. Giorgia Bronzini (Ita) Gauss RDZ Ormu
28. Nicole Cooke (GBr) Great Britain
32. Tiffany Cromwell (Aus) Australia
34. Sarah Düster (Ger) Cervelo TestTeam
38. Trixi Worrack (Ger) Noris Cycling
41. Ruth Corset (Aus) TIBCO
44. Andrea Dvorak (USA) United States Of America
46. Amber Neben (USA) United States Of America
51. Joanne Kiesanowski (NZl) TIBCO
56. Alexis Rhodes (Aus) Australia
76. Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) Lotto Ladies Team
84. Janel Holcomb (USA) United States of America
94. Sinead Miller (USA) United States of America
107. Daniela Pintarelli (Aut) Kuota Speed Kueens
Photo: Reuters
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