Tom Boonen won his fourth Paris-Roubaix (2005, 2008, 2009, 2012) on Sunday, after riding solo for 50km out of 257.5km. He also earned the second "double" of his career. Boonen is the only rider in men's road racing history to win Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix in the same season twice. Boonen is also the only rider to have won all four of the "cobbled" races —E3 Prijs Vlaanderen-Harelbeke, Gent-Wevelgem, Tour of Flanders, and Paris-Roubaix — in one season.

"I was not really thinking about these records or these victories," Boonen said. "I was really working hard to be on my top level these two or three weeks. I was already happy to have reached this level and I didn't have any big crashes this year so far. When I started winning Harelbeke I knew I would be good for others. When I look back on these two or three weeks, it's been amazing. It's my second double and I realize now I am the only one who did this 'double' two times. I realize now I am maybe be the best guy to ever ride on these cobblestones, on these roads. It's special, but think I need some time. My career isnt over yet."

Boonen managed to hold off a powerful chasing group of Alessandro Ballan (BMC Racing Team), Sebastien Turgot (Europcar), Lars Boom (Rabobank), and Mathieu Ladagnous (FDJ-Big Mat), who decided to commit to a chase in the final 24km after a larger chase group failed to organize.

"I was not really thinking about the winning race or doing a record," Boonen said. "I was just fighting myself. I was taking it step by step, cobblestone by cobblestone, kilometer by kilometer. I think if you start thinking about the 60 or 57 km, which is when I left, it's nearly impossible. It is all in your mind. I was really thinking about my lead. With the gap at 30 seconds I was trying to take it second by second. I was trying not to push it right away to one minute, tried not to force myself. It was the best way to save my strength and put all my strength into the 50km in front of me. I think it was the best option."

Boonen's teammate Niki Terpstra, who attacked with Boonen at 56km but could sustain the effort, was also in the chase group with Ballan and four others.

"I was not planning on this," Boonen said of his solo win. "But when I arrived in front with Niki and he dropped off, I was thinking 'OK, I already have Flanders. Why not try to win my fourth Paris-Roubaix in a very special way?' I started battling myself. The wind was not really helpful, but with 30 seconds I thought 'OK, it's also hard for everyone else'." I was only afraid there was a fresh rider coming, like Pippo Pozzato or Ballan."

Boom tried to chase solo in the final 20km, reducing the gap from 1'14" to 1'09" with 14.9km to go. However, Boom couldn't sustain the chase and was reeled in by the Ballan group. Ladagnous suffered a puncture and dropped from the chase. Boonen expanded his gap to more than 1'30" in the final 10km, and in the last kilometers, Boonen gave the hand signal for the number four, to signify his four Paris-Roubaix wins. Boonen said he had only one thought on his mind at that time: His girlfriend, Lore.

"I was thinking a lot about my girlfriend who is working on our house," Boonen said. "I thought about her a lot during the final and this victory is for her."

Boonen coasted through his two laps at the velodrome, again giving the hand signal for the number four. Meanwhile Terpstra took 5th in the chase group sprint. Turgot took 2nd, beating Ballan (3rd) in a bike throw.

"The velodrome finish line, it's the only one where you can do two laps where all the people are," Boonen said of the unique Paris-Roubaix finish. "It's the only finish line where you have one kilometer where you can bond with the people that are there. It's just just such a special race. Paris-Roubaix, only one race like it in the world. A race like this needs a special finish. I think changing this finish line would be very stupid. It's almost more Paris-Roubaix — finishing here — than the cobblestones. I was really enjoying my two laps."

The entire team contributed during the race. Guillaume Van Keirsbulck made a 12 rider break at km 70, but was taken out by a rider while riding through the Arenberg. Sylvain Chavanel did incredible work chasing down breaks, and also was in a four rider break with 66kms to go. However, he punctured with 58.1km to go, having to get his rear wheel replaced. He still battled with a chase group, which was about two minutes behind a select group of 30-40 riders. Boonen and Terpstra attacked shortly after Chavanel punctured. Gert Steegmans and Stijn Vandenbergh were both seen working at the front to chase down breaks during the race.

This is the 30th victory for Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team in three disciplines. Tom Boonen, who moved into first place in UCI WorldTour standings last week with his Ronde van Vlaanderen victory, increases his lead in the individual classification. The team is also ranked number one in UCI WorldTour standings.

"I just love it," Boonen said of bike racing. "I never, ever have problems finding motivation to train. Although, it has not been easy. It's my 11th year as a pro, there is always ups and downs, but never problems training. I like it, and I really do it for these races. These are the ones I love. Paris-Roubaix is one of the hardest one day races. Flanders and Paris-Roubaix both are difficult. The moment I start to feel tired, and not training, then it's time to stop. But I think the last few years I've found more love for the bike and I'm not losing it. I think it's getting easier getting older.

Results - 110th Paris-Roubaix (257.5km)
1. Tom Boonen (BEL) - 5:55.22 (43.48 km/h / 27.02 mph)
2. Sebastien Turgot (FRA) +1.39
3. Alessandro Ballan (ITA)
4. Juan Antonio Flecha (ESP)
5. Niki Terpstra

Photos: OPQS / Tim de Waele

This Sunday, April 8th, while millions of people worldwide continue their observation of Passover and rejoice in the celebration of Easter, professional cycling will once again undertake its annual descent into Hell, better known as the cobblestoned Classic, Paris-Roubaix.

Defined by its traditional twenty-seven sectors of pavé, which are spread out over 257.5 kilometers of terrain that was once pockmarked by the scourges of war, l'enfer du nord is a veritable meat grinder of both man and machine.

It is one of the few races on the calendar where its survivors finishers, are lauded as champions and its winner is elevated to legendary status.

Defending champion, Johan van Summeren (Garmin-Barracuda) returns, but he will be hard-pressed to claim back-to-back titles as he may only be Garmin-Barracuda's third best option.

Young Belgian compatriot and teammate, Sep Vanmarcke, who won this year's Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and rode strongly in the Ronde van Vlaanderen, will certainly be a marked man along with American Tyler Farrar.

Another squad that boast multiple contenders and will undoubtedly be heard from on Sunday is BMC Racing.

Labelled as a Classics super team because of their off-season acquisitions, the team has unfortunately underperformed during the early part of this season. But with a strong team showing last weekend at Flanders that was capped off by Alessandro Ballan's third place finish , BMC Racing now looks to be rounding into the juggernaut everyone had envisioned.

In addition to Ballan, BMC's hopes to lift the winner's cobblestone lie with former World Champion, Thor Hushovd, George Hincapie, former U-23 Roubaix winner Taylor Phinney, and Manuel Quinziato.

When all is said and done; however, the list of contenders may begin and end with one name, Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma - Quick-Step).

Wins at Qatar, Paris-Nice, Gent-Wevelgem, E3 Prijs Vlaanderen and Flanders, have all but signaled Boonen's rebirth to the dominant form that earned him the rare Ronde/Roubaix double in 2005.

He is unquestionably the odds-on favorite to go through Hell unscathed, and on the day that celebrates rebirth, it would be more than fitting for him to do so.

Special Moment for 'Picture of the Ronde' Fan

Tom Boonen's press conference about his Ronde van Vlaanderen victory on Sunday, as well as his thoughts about Paris-Roubaix next weekend, began with a special moment.

The team invited 11-year-old fan Tjorven to the press conference. Tjorven was the young fan, caught by TV cameras in an Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team kit, on his knees in pure elation following the victory of Boonen at Ronde van Vlaanderen. The TV image was then discovered on Twitter, and the Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team Twitter account @opqscyclingteam promoted the image with the words "Wow. We are speechless." Just days later, on Tuesday, Boonen greeted the young fan at the speakers table before the conference began.

"It was an emotional moment when I saw this guy celebrating my victory," Boonen said of the image he was shown of Tjorven on Sunday after his win. "We had a quick chat together and the boy was really happy about it, as was I."

Boonen provided Tjorven with a team feed bag filled with gifts. Two of those gifts were a T-shirt and wristband with the words "I 'Like' #OPQS," and the team logo on the sleeve. The boy, who was excited to meet Boonen, gave Tom one of his own team cycling jerseys, a small rider action figure with a painted team jersey on it, and a small medallion with Saint Christoper, the patron saint of travelers.

"I put it in my pocket and told him I will keep it with me for the future," Boonen said.

Following the meeting with the rider and his young fan, Boonen addressed the press about what he has done since his victory at Ronde van Vlaanderen.

"On Sunday evening it was a normal evening at home," Boonen said. "I arrived at home, drank a good glass of wine with my family and that was all. I went to bed immediately. I was really tired. On Monday, I didn't really have a lot of time to enjoy my victory. It's unbelievable. In cycling you have to turn the page immediately, and next weekend is Paris-Roubaix. I basically tried to recover as well as possible at that point. I slept a lot. I did two hours on the bike yesterday, and two hours today. But for the rest of the time, I will still try to enjoy life at home."

Boonen said, despite the brief time period between Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix, he still has enough time to acknowledge the importance of his victory.

"We are here already talking about Paris-Roubaix, but I have to say for me it was really important to win Ronde van Vlaanderen, as it was the first time on the new parcours," Boone said. "For me, it's really a privilege. I am really happy to have won and to have shown I am able to win a different race."

As for his feeling about winning Ronde van Vlaanderen for a third time, Boonen admitted the feeling did not compare to the first victory.

"I am super happy for me and the team," Boonen said. "But when I compare this happiness with the happiness for the victory I had the first time, it isn't the same. That was really a great moment and that feeling is something that has never come back."

Boonen then moved on to discussion about Paris-Roubaix — and 205.1km Scheldeprijs, which takes place on Wednesday, April 4.

"The race of tomorrow is an important race, and I am happy to be at the start," Boonen said. "Tomorrow I will try to work for other guys on the team. Francesco Chicchi, for example, can have his chance tomorrow in the race. For the rest of the week, starting tomorrow evening, I will start thinking about Paris-Roubaix. This year seems to be the year of the record, but Paris-Roubaix is really a difficult race, so anything can happen. We will see. There are a lot of competitors, Pozzato and Ballan. They showed they are in good condition."

Boonen will be ready to race on Sunday, despite how chaotic this week can often be for riders.

"I am still really motivated," Boonen said. "Mentally I have no problem. I want to ride a good race on Sunday. I work a lot to be competitive at this period of the season so I really want to try to do my best even on Sunday and fight for the victory. I don't know if I will make the recon or not on Friday. The parcours is still the same and I have pretty good experience with it. It will depend a little on my recovery and maybe I will take a little more rest to spend a little bit more time at home in the next days."

Roster for Scheldeprijs (BEL) 1.HC (205.1 km)

Marco Bandiera (ITA)
Tom Boonen (BEL)
Francesco Chicchi (ITA)
Nikolas Maes (BEL)
Gert Steegmans (BEL)
Matteo Trentin (ITA)
Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (BEL)
Stijn Vandenbergh (BEL)
Wilfried Peeters (BEL) - Sports Director

Photos: OPQS / Photonews

Record Three Wins, Top UCI World Tour Rider

Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team put themselves in good position for every key move of the day in the 255.2km Ronde van Vlaanderen on Sunday, and the result was Belgian rider Tom Boonen winning the race in a three man sprint, jumping with about 250 meters to go. Alessandro Ballan (BMC Pro Team) and Filippo Pozzato (Farnese Vini) were his break mates, and Pozzato was unable to catch Boonen before the finish line after Boonen jumped. This is a record third win for Boonen at Ronde van Vlaanderen.

"It's always difficult in a race like this, especially in a headwind," Boonen said. "I made a good sprint. I think Pippo was strong. Maybe on the Kwaremont he was stronger than me. But in the sprint he didn't have as much of a chance. Of course I didn't sit down and let them go, the one real thing I had to do was jump on a wheel when Ballan went. I had to chase, and waited for Pippo to push it, but he didn't really push it."

Ballan, 3rd place finisher, was the rider who jumped first in the final sprint before Boonen jumped. Ballan attempted to get away multiple times in the last few kilometers as well, including the 1km marker. Boonen stuck to his wheel each time. The three men worked together for 15km after Ballan initially attacked on the Oude Kwaremont. The gap quickly grew to 15 seconds on a false flat, and Boonen had to fight to stay composed up the final climb of the Paterberg, so he could stick with the two men and conserve his sprinting legs. The trio, once on flatter ground, expanded their gap to more than a minute in the last 10km. Boonen continued to wait on any moves by his break mates, and he successfully kept the race scenario in his favor until the last few hundred meters. It was a watching game, until Ballan decided to jump for the final time.

"For me it's not so important to show up on climbs and try to drop everyone and maybe lose the race," Boonen said. "I have to wait for my moment and count on my sprint."

Niki Terpstra and Sylvain Chavanel also had fantastic races for Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team. Terpstra finished 6th, and Chavanel 10th in a small group of riders who stuck together when the peloton blew apart on the last several climbs. Unfortunately, Fabian Cancellara (Radioshack-Nissan) — one of the race favorites — crashed out of the race in the feed zone before the key moves of the race happened.

"He crashed and I think maybe 10 minutes later we heard the news he wasn't in the race anymore," Boonen said. "We weren't really chasing anything. For us I feel really bad for him, but we just raced and didn't worry about the other guys. I am sad for him, and wish him a fast recovery and I am sure he will come back stronger then ever for the Olympics and for the other big goals he has."

Terpstra, Chavanel and Boonen made a select group of 11 riders with 32km to go, which included riders like Ballan, Pozzato, Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale), Juan Antonio Flecha (Katusha) and other big names. They had more 40 seconds at one point. Vincent Jerome (Team Europcar) decided to attack with 28km to go, and Terpstra worked hard to catch him solo with 23km to go after he and Chavanel took turns at the front setting the tempo high. Terpstra eventually caught him, and, when the peloton caught the select group, Terpstra continued to battle off the front on the Kwaremont. Terpstra was reeled in, and Ballan then attacked. That is when Pozzato decided to join Ballan, and Boonen followed his wheel with less than 18km to go.

"Every extra guy we have in the final kilometers is important," Boonen said. "It was nice to see that Chava and Niki were there. We controlled the break a little bit, but everything came back just before the Kwaremont, then Jerome went, then we went after him."

The entire team worked tremendously well all race long. Stijn Vandenbergh, playing the role of domestique to perfection, worked the front and then accompanied Boonen in the back of the field as he conserved energy and had his bike examined by a team mechanic earlier in the race. Gert Steegmans, Matteo Trentin, Nikolas Maes, and Dries Devenyns were all visible at the front, contributing during the race. Chavanel threw down the hammer multiple times, and also made sure riders couldn't bridge to Boonen when he got up the road.

Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team has won 29 races in 2012, in three disciplines, and moves up to third place in the UCI WorldTour team classification with 349 points. Boonen is now the top rider in UCI WorldTour individual classification, with 266 points.

"Right now I am happy," Boonen said, but admitted the win hasn't truly sunk in yet. "I've been extremely busy, but maybe in the shower I will have five minute to breathe a little bit, and then it will come.

As far as the new course goes, Boonen hesitated to call the 2012 course more difficult than 2011.

"It's different," Boonen said. "The last few days everybody was talking about how it's much harder, I always said it's not much more difficult. It's just different. There are more hills in the final kilometers. It's a different race and I am happy I won it for the first edition of the new course. I think the next few races, some will race harder in the final, but you saw it. Everyone was tired on the Kwaremont. The first time they pushed it but not hard, the second time riders were getting dropped."

Results - 96th Ronde van Vlaanderen (Brugge - Oudenaarde 256km)
1. Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quickstep - 6:04:33
2. Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
3. Alessandro Ballan (Ita) BMC Racing Team
4. Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team
5. Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Cannondale

Top American Finishers
52. George Hincapie (USA) BMC Racing Team
77. Edward King (USA) Liquigas-Cannondale
96. Jacob Rathe (USA) Garmin - Barracuda

Photos: OPQS / Time de Waele

Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team hosted a Ronde van Vlaanderen press conference on Friday, featuring a plethora of journalists from all over the world. The attendance left no doubt about the prestige of the race on Sunday.

Wilfried Peeters began the conference by informing the media of the team selection: Tom Boonen, Sylvain Chavanel, Dries Devenyns, Nikolas Maes, Gert Steegmans, Niki Terpstra, Matteo Trentin and Stijn Vandenbergh.

"We waited until now because Vandenbergh was a little sick after the race on Sunday," Peeters said. "We preferred to wait to give the team a bit, but now the team is ready."

Boonen, Chavanel and Terpstra were all at the press conference. Boonen said he is relaxed and ready for Ronde van Vlaanderen.

"After my victories at E3Prijs and Gent-Wevelgem the first part of the season, it's already good," Boonen said. "But on Saturday we will start from zero. Ronde van Vlaanderen is a completely different course. Even the tradition of the race, it's important. We have to try and do our best, always."

The team performed course recon earlier in the week, and Boonen said he is unsure if the new course is more difficult, or easier, than the 2011 course.

"I don't exactly know how the race will be," Boonen said. "It's the first time we've raced on the parcours. I can't say if this is better than last year. We will see the last night after the race. For sure it will be a fight — man against man or small group finish. We have a great team, but with a race like that a great team does not guarantee success. We have to be ready to fight each meter and try and get victory at the finish line."

As far as favorites go, Boonen knew the media was curious about his thoughts on Fabian Cancellara (Radioshack-Nissan).

"I know its an item talking about me and Fabian," Boonen said. "I never rode a race to beat somebody else by themselves, but to win. For Fabian it will be the same. Between us there is a mutual respect. We are always fighting in such a way. We don't have to forget there are a lot of other riders that can be in the final. Pozzato or Sagan. It's not only a race between me and Fabian but an important race for everybody."

Terpstra said he is happy just to race with the team after a crash last season in De Panne, which kept him off the 2011 Ronde van Vlaanderen team selection.

" Now for me it's a big goal to be there," Terpstra said. "I will do my best to help Tom and the team and to be important in the team strategy for the race on Sunday."

Chavanel told the media Boonen is the team captain for Sunday, despite his strong performance over the past week at KBC-Driedaagse De Panne -Koksijde

"I still have a very good role," Chavanel said. "Today we did another trip around the last lap of the course, me and Terpstra. We did one lap by car and another lap by bike. We really did all that we can do to be 100 percent on Sunday. We now only need to recover and stay relaxed, and wait for the race on Sunday. I am sure it will be a great show for everybody."

Photos: Courtesy OPQS

Boonen wins third Gent-Wevelgem of his career, while team gets 26th victory of the 2012 season

Tom Boonen made a legendary addition to his palmarès on Sunday. After a leg wrecking team effort by Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team to get themselves to the front of the race, then placing Boonen in perfect position for a sprint victory, he took off up the middle of the road in the final meters to win his third Gent-Wevelgem.

Only Eddy Merckx, Mario Cipollini, Robert Van Eenaeme, and Rik Van Looy won Gent-Wevelgem three times. Boonen beat Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale) and Matti Breschel (Rabobank) across the line. Boonen used a bike throw, but didn't need it as he cleared the line by almost his entire bike before Sagan crossed.

"This morning at briefing decided not to take risks because of Ronde van Vlaanderen. If we survived the last trip up the Kemmelberg, we would try to do the sprint." Boonen said of the 2100m, 4.9 percent average gradient climb with a max ramp of 21 percent. "It's the key point of the race, about 35km from the finish. We passed with four or five riders so that was really a good sign. I came from the second row. It was a bit close on the left hand side, but I made the right decision because, with the headwind, I tried to stay covered until the very last moment. Then, when I saw the possibility, I decided it was time to do the sprint. I'm in good shape. I already showed my condition on Friday and I am content."

Gert Steegmans, Gerald Ciolek and Dries Devenyns did tremendous work to ensure Boonen was in the key move of the day. Fabian Cancellara (Radioshack-Nissan) and Sagan went up the road to try and catch the remaining riders of an original nine man breakaway with less than 33kms to go in a 235km race. Two of those riders, Jon Izaguirre (Euskatel-Euskadi) and Anders Lund (Team Saxo Bank), attacked the group earlier and had less than 2 minutes of a gap when Cancellara and Sagan made their move. Steegmans initially tried to bridge on his own, but then returned to a chase group that included Boonen, Ciolek and Devenyns. Steegmans, Ciolek and Devenyns then led the charge to the Sagan and Cancellara chase, which eventually caught the remnants of the original break with a little more than 27kms to go.

Meanwhile, a group of several sprinters fell off the back of the chase group. Mark Cavendish (Team Sky) and Andre Greipel (Lotto-Belisol) slowly saw their race contention slip away as the Boonen chase group caught the Cancellara and Sagan group with 26km remaining. That left only Lund and Izaguirre dangling up the road, with a one minute gap. Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team worked at the front to chip away at the gap, encouraging other teams to assist in the case. By then time 17kms remained, the Cancellara and Boonen merged group caught the duo and Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team dictated the race from there.

"The team once again was super strong," Boonen said. "Steegmans in particular was a really key rider. The team did their best fight to make the front, they expended all energy they had to try and help. It's the team spirit we have in this moment on this team. The entire team is showing its power. Other teams are as strong as ours, but we have to say this moment we are not so bad either. We have a team where — I am not a guy who screams at my teammates, but with our team I don't have to say the same thing 10 times. Everybody knows what they have to do."

Devenyns, who worked hard to make sure Boonen was in the key move earlier, eventually lost contact with the group after doing his job. That left Steegmans and Ciolek to work at the front for Boonen. Ciolek buried himself to chase down an attacking Team Sky rider with 5km to go, and once that was done it was up to Steegmans to deliver Boonen to the line.

"Steegmans did something really unbelievable today," Boonen said. "He kept the speed so fast so I could do my sprint.

As the sprint began, there was a crash in the back involving several riders. Boonen was not one of them, and he took off for the win as chaos erupted behind him.

"I will now try to focus on recovery, eating, and sleeping as well as possible and then try to do my best at Ronde van Vlaanderen," Boonen said. "I am not like Cancellara or other guys who can solo for 50km. I don't have the engine to do it. I will try to be in control and see what happens. The Ronde van Vlaanderen course is different. It's harder than in the past. Everybody I think will wait a bit. You never know what can happen with a parcour like that. I'm really happy to win Gent-Wevelgem. These races in Flanders, and Paris-Roubaix — I live for races like these. I like these and these are where I have to try and really perform even if every race I always do my best."

Results - Gent-Wevelgem (Deinze - Wevelgem 234.6km)
1. Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-Quickstep) - 5:32:44
2. Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale)
3. Matti Breschel (Rabobank Cycling Team)

Photos: OPQS / Tim de Waele

Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team continued its race dictating ways at Prijs Vlaanderen - Harelbeke, and thanks to the aggressive race tactics, Tom Boonen — in top form — sprinted to victory on Friday. It's a record fifth victory for Boonen at , as rider Rik Van Looy won four times in the 1960s. Boonen beat Oscar Freire (Katusha Team) by inches after being the first to go on the sprint. Bernie Eisel (Sky Pro Cycling) was 3rd.

"I was trying to make it a nice race," Boonen said. "It was not only important for a good result, but also important for the head a little bit and the sensations on the climbs. That's why I was doing a few big attacks. I wasn't really saving myself for the sprint. But then in the end, everything came together and I think everybody was suffering."

Boonen showed his strength earlier in the race, attacking on his favorite climb, the Taaienberg. He dragged along a powerhouse group of riders including Fabian Cancellara (Radioshack-Nissan) and Sep Vanmarcke (Garmin-Barracuda) with 55km to go. They were chasing down a break of a handful of riders, including Oscar Gatto (Farnese-Vini). Gatto decided to go solo as the break was reeled in. Boonen realized he was alone in the break, with his teammates chasing behind. He, and other members of the group, sat up a bit and let more riders join. Sylvain Chavanel was one of them and on the Oude Kwaremont, there was an acceleration. Chavanel took Simon Spilak (Katusha) and Dimitry Muravyev (Astana) with him up the road at that time. As Chavanel and his break mates bridged to Gatto, Spilak was dropped. Gatto suffered a flat tire with 22km to go, which allowed Chavanel and Muravyev to take over at the front of the race.

"We're really good friends, me and Chava," Boonen said. "We really connect, we don't have any problems riding and helping each other. It was nice today, he was not there all the time but he got back at the right moment. It's important to have someone like Chava. Also for him, with a little luck he could've won today. It's nice working together with him and the other guys. Right now the strength of this team, everone is on a good level. We're really tight, really close together. I think we already won with 9 different riders."

Chavanel and Muravyev and shared a congratulatory hand slap as they were caught with 7km to go. Niki Terpstra, meanwhile, covered an attack immediately following. After a day of non-stop aggression, Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team was ready to fight for the victory. With just 230 meters to go, Boonen launched his sprint. Oscar Freire worked his way to Boonen, but Boonen's power was enough to give him the 25th victory for Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team. The crowd was especially excited after the race to see a fellow Flandrian win.

"Today at the finish I had goosebumps," Boonen said. "The Flemish public was unbelievable."

Results - E3 Prijs Vlaanderen - Harelbeke (Harelbeke - Harelbeke 203.0 km)
1. Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team) - 4:51.59 (41.71 km/h / 25.92 mph)
2. Oscar Freire (Katusha Team)
3. Bernhard Eisel (Sky Pro Cycling)
4. Leonardo Duque (Cofidis)
5. Sep Vanmarcke (Garmin-Barracuda)

Photos: OPQS / Tim de Waele

Tom Boonen won his fourth career Tour of Qatar on Friday, playing it safe on a scrappy bunch sprint where world champion Mark Cavendish (Team Sky) crashed after touching wheels with another rider just meters before the finish. All Boonen had to do was cross the line with the group to take home the gold leader's jersey for Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team.

Arnaud Demare (FDJ-BigMat) won Stage 6, while Denis Galimzyanov (Katusha Team) and Mark Renshaw (Rabobank) finished second and third, respectively. Boonen was the team's top finisher at 15th, while Gert Steegmans placed 18th.

Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team worked hard early on in the race to try and bring a seven rider break back. Speeds reached upwards of 55km per hour at one point. Matt Brammeier was spotted at the front of the peloton for the final 14 km as a seven man breakaway was brought back together. He took several hard pulls at the front of a very fast paced peloton.

“Today we implemented an effective strategy,” explained Sports Director Wilfried Peeters. “We didn’t want to take any chances. A fall would have compromised the work of one week. The guys stayed close to Tom, who didn’t want to risk anything. A flat or a fall in the last kilometers would have been a problem. For us today it was important to maintain our leadership in the race. Overall in Qatar we saw a great Tom Boonen but in general a great team, able to also win the classification for teams and to place Steegmans in 4th place. Today Gert also tried to make up a few seconds in the intermediate sprint so he could get to the third step on the podium, but to no avail. The guys rode a tight race and the results have rewarded us. It’s been a phenomenal start of 2012 for our team. Now we have to try to maintain this form and this spirit for the races to come.”

Steegmans played a crucial role in Boonen's Tour of Qatar victory. He worked through chaos on several races to lead out Boonen for stage wins. Stage 4 was particularly impressive, in which Steegmans, and teammate Nikolas Maes, helped Boonen bridge to a few attacking riders. Steegmans also finished fourth place overall.

However, the entire team worked to protect Boonen every day. Stijn Vandenbergh, Frantisek Rabon, Guillaume Van Keirsbulck, and Brammeier rode hard from the first kilometer to the last to protect their GC leader on Stage 5. Francesco Chicchi did the same earlier in the stage race, but fell ill before Stage 5 and did not start.

Boonen has won nearly half of all Tour of Qatar stages since the race began.

“I’ve never been interested in records,” said Boonen. “However it’s nice to win this race for the fourth time. After the good test in Argentina I wanted to win in Qatar. There were a lot of competitors here but I was also lucky that the route was adapted to my skills. I built my victory in the first stage and in the fourth stage - both were very difficult – then I concentrated on defending myself in the other stages. Today I didn’t want to take any risks, so as not to blow a week’s worth of work. I’m satisfied; this is my first step back to high level cycling. Now it will be important to stay calm and concentrate on fine tuning this conditioning. In Oman I’m going to be racing in support of my team mates, who have been fantastic in this start of 2012. There’s a great atmosphere on the team, I thank all of them for the fantastic job they’ve done for me. It would be a dream to be able to help one of them clinch a personal success.”

Tour of Qatar Stage 6 (Sealine Beach Resort - Doha Corniche 120.0 km) Results
1. Arnaud Demare (FRA) - 02:20.44 (51.16 km/h - 31.79 mph)
2. Denis Galimzyanov (RUS)
3. Mark Renshaw (AUS)

General Classification After Stage 6
1. Tom Boonen (BEL) - 15:42.13 (46.12 km/h - 28.66 mph)
2. Tyler Farrar (USA) - +.28
3. Juan Antonio Flecha (ESP) - +.33
4. Gert Steegmans (BEL) +.34

Photo: © OPQS/Tim de Waele

Four Omega Pharma - Quick Step Cycling Team riders made a substantial and strong breakaway at Tour of Qatar Stage 4. Three of those riders, Nikolas Maes, Tom Boonen and Gert Steegmans, stayed at the front when that large front group split with a little more than 19 km to go. The team's aggressiveness allowed Boonen prime position for a sprint victory on Wednesday.

“This is an important step towards the general classification,” said Boonen. “The more difficult the race conditions, the more the riders who are in top shape are emerging. Today our team had a perfect race. Once again Steegmans carried me perfectly. I have great faith in Gert and again today we proved our worth.”

Steegmans worked tremendously hard at the front to keep general classification (GC) leader Tom Boonen in perfect position in the group. Steegmans also helped push a pace that eventually ballooned the front group's gap over the peloton to a minute and 10 seconds with less than 5 km to go. That's when two riders — Radioshack-Nissan rider Fabian Cancellara and BMC Racing Team rider Adam Blythe — attacked the front group. They had a small gap, until Steegmans helped Boonen and Maes bridge. Another Team Sky rider bridged with them, but it was clear the numbers were favorable to Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team with 2 km remaining. As the riders approached the final meters, Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team pushed the pace. However, Cancellara had ideas of his own and began his sprint early.

Boonen, who was second wheel in the group, saw Fabian's move and immediately countered with his own sprint. Boonen rode away from the group at that point, crossing the finish line with several bike lengths between he and the others. He still threw his bike across the line, knowing time was of importance with his gold leader's jersey on his back. Boonen also earned time bonuses in the break. Because of his victory, the time bonuses, and second place GC contender Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Barracuda) puncturing and losing the initial large breakaway, Boonen now has a 31 second overall lead.

“It won’t be easy to defend the jersey in these next few days but I’m lucky to have a great team with me,” continued Boonen. “Personally, I feel good and I’m looking forward to the last stages with confidence, even if in the desert flat tires and wires are part of the course.”

Steegmans finished 4th, and Maes finished 5th. Steegmans is also in GC contention, 36 seconds back from Boonen.

“Today the team did a great job and Boonen capitalized on everyone’s efforts” Sports Director Wilfried Peeters said. “Too bad that Vandenbergh and Van Keirsbulck got flats. The next two stages are going to be a battle. With a little luck we’ll try to defend our leadership.”

Tour of Qatar Stage 4 (Al Takhira - Madinat Al Shamal 144.0 km) Results
1. Tom Boonen (BEL) - 03:03.14 (47.15 km/h - 29.30 mph)
2. Tom Veelers (NED)- s.t.
3. Fabian Cancellara (SUI) - s.t.

General Classification After Stage 4
1. Tom Boonen (BEL) - 09:50.50 (45.12 km/h - 28.04 mph)
2. Tyler Farrar (USA) - +.32
3. Juan Antonio Flecha (ESP) - +.34

Photo: © OPQS/Tim de Waele

Tom Boonen Takes Stage 1; Teammate Andy Fenn Sprints to Trofeo Palma Victory

Just moments after commentators mentioned how well Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team has jelled early this season during Tour of Qatar coverage, Tom Boonen, who worked at the front with his teammates within the final 8 km, won the bunch sprint on Sunday's stage 1.

"In the final there was a little wind," explains Boonen. "It was very difficult to stay out front but the guys did a phenomenal job. It was a tough battle to maintain the lead positions. In the final I ended up ahead with Maes and Steegmans. Both of them did a great job. Maes took me from the last curve to 400 meters and then it was Geert's turn and at 200 meters I launched my sprint."

The flat, 142.5 km course from Barzan Towers to Doha Golf Club was suspected to end in a sprint finish, with mild weather and nothing but tailwind and a slight crosswind at times.

The peloton reeled back the day's only attacker —Adam Hansen of Lotto-Belisol — shortly after the second sprint point location.

Boonen won by multiple bike lengths. Still, he threw his bike across the finish line to ensure his stage win.

Matt Brammeier was seen at the front, working hard for the team in the final kilometers to help set up Boonen for the stage win.

"It was a lovely victory that comes just a few days from the success in Argentina," Boonen said. "Everyone here is highly motivated. Tomorrow is the team time trial. We're definitely going to give it our best. With this team we've always got to try to achieve excellent results. I think that a place among the first three teams is definitely within our reach. Then in the next few days we'll see if we can also be contenders for the classification."

Adam Blythe (BMC Racing Team) and Peter Sagan (Liquigas) finished second and third, respectively

Tour of Qatar Stage 1 (Barzan Towers - Doha Golf Club 142.5 km) Results
1. Tom Boonen (BEL) 3:11.22 44.68 km/h (27.76 mph)
2. Adam Blythe (GBR) s.t.
3. Peter Sagan (SVK) s.t.

General Classification After Stage 1
1. Tom Boonen (BEL) 3:11.22 44.68 km/h (27.76 mph)
2. Adam Blythe (GBR) s.t.
3. Peter Sagan (SVK) s.t.

Andy Fenn Wins Trofeo Palma

It didn't take long for newcomer Andy Fenn to learn how to win in a final sprint. In fact, after the Australian transfer, today Fenn achieved the first success of his young career after a very close, hard fought sprint, beating Schulze and Porsev in the first test of the Challenge Mallorca, on a city circuit drawn around Palma di Mallorca for a total of 116 km.

It was a super important victory for the 21-year-old from Birmingham, one of the young up and comers on whom Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team is betting, a rider who's right at home in sprints as well as on cobblestones. In fact, in 2008 Fenn won the junior Paris-Roubaix.

"I'm ecstatic," said Fenn. "I've been dreaming of a victory like this. The team did some extraordinary work. In the last 3 laps we took charge of the race. In the final Matteo Trentin carried me splendidly and I managed to win. It's my first success as a pro; the joy is indescribable. I can't wait to share it with my team mates this evening."

Trofeo Mallorca Trofeo Palma Results
1. Andrew Fenn (GBR) - 2:23.53 48.37 km/h (30.06 mph)
2. Andre Shulze (GER) - s.t.
3. Alexander Porsev (RUS) - s.t.

General Classification After Trofeo Palma
1. Andrew Fenn - 2:23.53 (48.37 km/h - 30.06 mph)
2. Andre Shulze - s.t.
3. Alexander Porsev - s.t.

Photo © OPQS/Tim de Waele