The magic moment of the Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team and of its sprinter Francesco Chicchi at the Tour de San Luis goes on. After yesterday’s magnificent photo-finish win, the 31-year-old Italian sprinter gave a repeat performance today edging out teammate Tom Boonen as both crossed the finish line with their arms up, celebrating a double podium for Omega Pharma – Quick-Step.

This is an important success that confirms Chicchi’s excellent form as well as that of the entire team, that today again worked brilliantly during the final sprint. During the first part of the race, Grabsch and Rabon dictated the pace in the leading pack of the peloton. Chavanel and Leipheimer started their action in the final 10 kilometers of the race, guiding Boonen and Chicchi up until the last kilometer.

“It was yet another phenomenal day”, a very happy Chicchi said. “I was supposed to help Boonen’s sprint in the end, seen as that was what we had decided during the morning meeting. I started the sprint with Casper and Tom right on my wheel. About 300 meters from the finish line I looked behind me and I didn’t see Tom anymore. At that point I launched my sprint and only in the last 50 meters I saw Tom near me. We both raised our hands and I stopped thinking about the sprint. It was only after passing the finish line that I understood I had won. It’s the first time I win two stages in a row during the same race, it’s a great feeling. Winter training and the serene atmosphere in the team are bringing in great results. Let me thank my team once again. The guys raced a team time-trial again today and they took Tom and I by the hand up until the very last kilometer. It’s a pleasure to race alongside athletes that are such great professionals.”

“We controlled the race perfectly once again today,” Boonen said after the end of the stage. “I was trying to get Chicchi’s wheel at the last kilometer in order to enhance my sprint, but another rider hit my front wheel making me wallow for a moment. I lost a few positions but I managed to keep good speed. I made my sprint attempt in the final meters and found myself head to head with Chicchi. We looked at each other and just by instinct we both raised our arms. We didn’t know who of us had won but it didn’t matter. We’re happy to have given the team another great day. I am in good shape and there will be more time for me to win.”

Thanks to today’s time bonuses, Chicchi can consolidate his advantage as leader of the standings while waiting for tomorrow’s mountain stage and Thursday’s time trial stage, when all the athletes atop the standings will put in their best effort.

Stage 2 Results (Fraga - Juana Kuslay 145.3 km):
1. Francesco Chicchi (ITA) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step
2. Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step
3. Jacob Keough (USA) Unitedhealthcare
4. Fco. Jose Ventoso (Spa) Movistar
5. Jimmy Casper (Fra) Ag2R-La Mondiale

General Classification After Stage 2
1. Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Omega Pharma - Quick Step
2. Juan Jose Haedo (Arg) Team Saxo Bank
3. Jacob Keough (USA) Unitedhealthcare

Photos: Courtesy Omega Pharma - Quick Step © Riccardo Scanferla

When we last saw Tom Boonen (Quick Step), he was seen climbing into a team car after abandoning the Tour de France on Stage 7.

Fortunately, Tommeke has returned to training consistently after he was forced to withdraw from Tour de France due to a fall during the 5th stage. Boonen received the go ahead from the team’s medical staff after performing a few workouts last weekend.

“I’m happy I can get back to training and I’m relieved that the fall didn’t have any major repercussions,” said Boonen. “The withdrawal from the Tour forced us to re-examine our schedule for the rest of the season. The team and I we’ve decided I will make my comeback in the Tour de Pologne on Sunday, July 31st. This race was my first race as stagiaire in a professional team in 2000. I have a lot of good memories about that race. It was the first time ever I rode more than 200 kilometres. I didn’t ride the last 2 stages because I was tired as never in my life. I was only 19 years old. It will be nice to come back there.”

After the Tour de Pologne, on August 14th Boonen will participate in a race in London on the same circuit that will host the Olympic races next year.

“I’ll be wearing the National jersey when I ride the race,” continues Boonen. “The Federation is granting me a great opportunity to race on an Olympic circuit. I’m very pleased, I’m sure it will be an important test event.”

After the Test Event in London, Boonen will fly to Spain to participate in the Vuelta España.

Photo: © Tim de Waele - TDWSport.com

Quick-Step Cycling Team has officially announced the squad that will participate in Sunday's Ronde van Vlaanderen, one of cycling's most important events with major media coverage.

“For our team the Ronde is one of the most important moments in the season” Sports Director Wilfried Peeters says “We're lining up for the start with a team that's growing, built up around Tom Boonen and with some individuals who could really make their mark. We decided to prepare some athletes for this race with the Driedaagse van De Panne; for others, including Boonen, the choice was different: to concentrate on a few specific workouts before Sunday's race to fine tune his conditioning. We have three young riders on the team who are riding in the Ronde for the first time - that would be Malacarne, Stauff and Devenyns. All three of them really earned a place on this squad with solid, high-profile races. We're sure they can perform well and have a good race on Sunday as well."

Ronde van Vlaanderen Roster
Riders Tom Boonen (BEL)
Sylvain Chavanel (FRA)
Dries Devenyns (BEL)
Davide Malacarne (ITA)
Andreas Stauff (GER)
Gert Steegmans (BEL)
Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (BEL)
Kevin Van Impe (BEL)
Wilfried Peeters (BEL) - Sports Director

Thanks to a wonderful sprint Tom Boonen won the Gent-Wevelgem race for the second time in his career today, following his first success here in 2004 that started the legend of "Tornado Tom". Boonen edged out Daniele Bennati (Team Leopard) and Tyler Farrar (Team Garmin) on the finish line.

"It's a great win that boosts the morale of our whole team. Everyone did a fantastic job today” Boonen says “It was quite an emotion to cross the finish line here. Winning this competition after so many years has a special flavor to it. This doesn't make much difference for the Ronde Van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders), they're two different things. I need to improve a bit more to be in top form for the Ronde. This week I will only focus on training and resting when I'm not pedalling. Back to today's race, Gert (Steegmans) started the sprint and guided me perfectly. The difference between 2004 is that Flanders and Roubaix were a dream back then. The following year I became a Sunday-race type of rider" joked Boonen. "Our team is growing. Chavanel is doing well and so is Terpstra and Steegmans. Everyone still has a good improvement margin before Sunday's race. We can and must do well. It took some time to find the right mechanisms within the team with all these young and new riders. But we're very well-synched now and I think today's race showed it. Next Sunday we're going to run a good race."

Results
1. Tom Boonen (Quickstep Cycling Team)
2. Daniele Bennati (Leopard Trek)
3. Tyler Farrar (Team Garmin-Cervelo)
4. André Greipel (Omega Pharma-Lotto)
5. Lloyd Mondory (AG2R La Mondiale)
6. Mitchell Docker (Skil - Shimano)
7. Bernhard Eisel (HTC-Highroad)
8. Kristof Goddaert (AG2R La Mondiale)
9. Lars Boom (Rabobank Cycling Team)
10. Baden Cooke (Saxo Bank Sungard)

Photo: Courtesy Quick Step

Quick-Step Cycling Team will be lining up this weekend at the E3 Prijs Vlaanderen and in the Gent-Wevelgem, with two squads ready to rumble.

Tom Boonen will be participating in the Gent-Wevelgem.

"We chose this option because at this point in the season the team needs to rack up some important points for the team standings” Team Manager Patrick Lefevere says “This is why we decided to put Tom Boonen in the Gent Wevelgem; our aim is to ride a good race and collect valuable points for our team classification."

"It isn't easy for me to choose between two races of such stature and tradition” Tom Boonen says “I would have liked to race in both of them, but we've chosen Gent Wevelgem because for us at this time the World Tour is really important."

Roster for E3 Prijs Vlaanderen (BEL) 1HC - March 26
Gerald Ciolek (GER)
Dries Devenyns (BEL)
Iljo Keisse (BEL)
Davide Malacarne (ITA)
Andreas Stauff (GER)
Niki Terpstra (NED)
Kevin Van Impe (BEL)
Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (BEL)
Wilfried Peeters (BEL) - Sports Director

Follow the race on www.e3prijsvlaanderen.be

Roster for Gent-Wevelgem (BEL) WT - March 27
Tom Boonen (BEL)
Sylvain Chavanel (FRA)
Gerald Ciolek (GER)
Dries Devenyns (BEL)
Davide Malacarne (ITA)
Andreas Stauff (GER)
Gert Steegmans (BEL)
Kevin Van Impe (BEL)
Wilfried Peeters (BEL) - Sports Director

Follow the race on www.gent-wevelgem.be

The Quick-Step Cycling Team technical staff has announced the squad that will participate in the Milano Sanremo. Team captain will be Tom Boonen, who last year captured an outstanding second place on the wheels of Freire.

“The Milano Sanremo is a strange race that's always tough to predict" explains Boonen "and this is part of what makes it so compelling. In this race you can never know what's going to happen. As always it will be important not to waste any precious energy before the final. Compared to last year, I'm not starting out as a favourite and this can be an advantage. There are lots of adversaries, perhaps a few more than in these last years. At the Tirreno Adriatico we got to check out which riders are in top form. Personally, I feel better than when the Tirreno Adriatico started. I recovered well from the flu that left me weak in the first days of the race. I’m not 100% but I'm growing. I’m ready to ride a good race."

Roster for Milan-San Remo
Marco Bandiera (ITA)
Tom Boonen (BEL)
Sylvain Chavanel (FRA)
Davide Malacarne (ITA)
Jerome Pineau (FRA)
Francesco Reda (ITA)
Niki Terpstra (NED)
Kevin Van Impe (BEL)
Davide Bramati (ITA) - Sports Director

Follow all the action of La Classicissima on the Gazzetta website.

As they look forward to Paris-Nice and Tirreno Adriatico, Quick-Step Cycling Team will line up on Tuesday, March 1, for the 43rd GP le Samyn. The race opens the cycling season in Wallonie, and the team will be at the starting line with a young formation featuring Guillaume Van Keirsbulck, one of the protagonists of Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, Julien Vermote, Frederique Robert and Slovenian Jan Tratnik.

Dutch champion Niki Terpstra, Andy Cappelle, Addy Engels and Iljo Keisse will also add their expertise to the team. Rik Van Slycke will direct the riders from the team car.

Boonen, Steegmans & Engles to Appear at Batibouw Trade Show

Wevelgem, Belgium - Today, Tuesday, March 1st, members of the Quick-Step Cycling Team will be guests at the Quick-Step stand at the Batibouw trade show.

Led by Tom Boonen and Gert Steegmans, all the Belgian riders from the team, as well as Dutchman Addy Engels, will be present.

“The date at Batibouw has become a team tradition,” commented Boonen. “For the team this is an important chance to stand side by side with our sponsor in one of the most important expos for this sector in the world.”

Batibouw is the greatest professional construction and renovation fair in Belgium and it's held annually at the NPO Brussels Exhibition Centre. It's an event where different players from the building sector come to meet and network. Visitors can discover innovations and new trends and they get the opportunity to participate in roundtables, seminars and many more events.

The date with Quick-Step Cycling Team is set for 2:00 p.m. at the Quick-Step stand in Hall 6-219 (Batibouw-Heysel-Brussels).

Dominant, overpowering, superior, controlling, assertive, authoritative, commanding, powerful, supreme, transcendent. Somewhere Saul Bellow is smiling, as the use of a single superlative simply fails to accurately capture Fabian Cancellara's performance this past Sunday, and for that matter this past week.

On a day usually referred to as "A Sunday In Hell," the current Ronde van Vlaanderen champion tamed the Roubaix cobbles and made it look more like a Sunday ride in the park.

Instinctively attacking his most powerful adversary, Tom Boonen (Quick Step), who had momentarily paused from his own relentless attacking, within 50kms of the finish line, Cancellara's move was so utterly demonstrative that the outcome of the race was decided in a few pedal strokes.

With front end bouncing like a hydraulically enhanced low-rider and a chain bobbing unbridled as if trying to wrestle itself free from the rest of his Specialized machine, the 29-year Swiss rider cruised solo to his second Paris-Roubaix victory, and in the process completed the rare Spring Classics double.

Thor Hushovd (Cervelo Test Team) and Juan Antonio Flecha (Sky Professional Cycling Team) were the best of the rest, breaking away late from a tired and dwindling elite group of riders.

Results
1. Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo Bank
2. Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team
3. Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Sky Professional Cycling Team

Extraordinary Times

Fans of the one-day Classics are truly living in extraordinary times. In 2008, coincidentally after Tom Boonen's second Roubaix victory, I remarked that cycling was entering a new "Golden Age." With trio of riders, Cancellara, Boonen and Ballan, under the age of 30, Classics fans were sure to be treated to greatness for some time to come. And with the exception of Ballan, who has been slowed by some injuries, Boonen and Cancellara have not disappointed. Both are now part of select group of 27 riders who have won more than 3 of the 5 monuments of cycling.

Like most cycling fans of a certain age, I often wonder what it was like when the legends like Merckx, De Vlaeminck, Van Looy, Moser, and Kelly once ruled the Classics planet. But unless you are irreparably nostalgic, cycling legends — perhaps soon to go down in the history books as "the greatest" — are currently riding, and winning, right under your noses.

Other Notables
4. Roger Hammond (GBr) Cervelo Test Team
5. Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step
7. Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Team Katusha
8. Leif Hoste (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto
10. Hayden Roulston (NZl) Team HTC - Columbia
26. Michael Barry (Can) Sky Professional Cycling Team
29. George Hincapie (USA) Bmc Racing Team
33. Dominique Rollin (Can) Cervelo Test Team
42. Stijn Devolder (Bel) Quick Step
48. Bjorn Selander (USA) Team RadioShack
63. Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo

Photo: REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

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

With the Arab emirate of Qatar jutting out into the Persian Gulf like a small appendage of Saudi Arabia, the probability of winds effecting riders and therefore the outcome of the race is relatively high. Throw in a tornado, and well…the outcome becomes all but a certainty.

For the 17th time in his career, "Tornado" Tom Boonen (Quick Step) would touch down on the roads of Qatar, leaving a 142km trail of debris from Lusail to Madinat Al Shamal on today’s Stage 5. Danilo Napolitano (Team Katusha) and Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Sky) were the most immediate bystanders of the destruction, finishing second and third, respectively.

Although Wouter Mol’s (Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team) lead in the General Classification is relatively insurmountable at his juncture of the race, Boonen’s utter dominance of the Tour of Qatar cannot be overstated.

Since he began using the Tour of Qatar as his season’s opener, he has won approximately 45% (17 of 38) of the stages he has entered. Add the two Team Time Trial victories in which he participated, then he has won exactly half of all the stages since 2004.

In nature, tornadoes are difficult to forecast accurately — even when certain weather conditions present themselves — in cycling, especially in Qatar, its as simple as looking for a certain Belgian at the start line.

Stage 5 Results
1. Tom Boonen (Quick Step)
2. Danilo Napolitano (Team Katusha)
3. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Sky)

General Classification After Stage 5
1. Wouter Mol (Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team)
2. Geert Steurs (Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator)
3. Tom Boonen (Quick Step)
4. Roger Kluge (Team Milram)
5. Marcus Burghardt ( BMC Racing Team)
6. Danilo Napolitano (Team Katusha)
7. Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma - Lotto)
8. Heinrich Haussler (Cervélo TestTeam)
9. Francesco Chicchi (Liquigas-Doimo)
10. Stuart O’Grady (Team Saxo Bank)

Next: Stage 6 - Al Wakra to Doha Corniche (123.5 km)

Photo: KARIM JAAFAR/AFP/Getty Images