[Burkni]

Boonen is cooked after the Molenberg. If only Devenyns had been able to sneak between Boonen and Hushovd and let a gap go.

[VdB]

Vanmarcke shakes off Hushovd (and Breschel?) on the Paddenstraat!

[Burkni]

No way Boonen will win the sprint after all that work.
How are Vanmarcke and Hayman in the sprint VdB?

[VdB]

For those who didn't see it, here's the Boom vs Boonen crash again, right at the foot of the Taaienberg

http://www.sporza.be...alink/1.1230056

[VdB]

Burkni, on 25 February 2012 - 02:55 PM, said:

No way Boonen will win the sprint after all that work.
How are Vanmarcke and Hayman in the sprint VdB?

As far as I know, both are 'strijkijzers' as they say in Flemish cycling lingo, i.e. 'flat irons' (as in the thing you use to iron clothes). They have little or no sprint.

With Breschel and Hushovd gone, Boonen should be by far the fastest sprinter of these guys. Makes you wonder why they're still helping him. But I think Vanmarcke is already happy to be there in the finale and Flêcha always rides so...

[VdB]

God Vanmarcke is strong!

[Burkni]

VdB, on 25 February 2012 - 03:03 PM, said:

God Vanmarcke is strong!

Way more convincing that Boonen on the cobbles. Don't count him out yet in the sprint, he is so strong.

[VdB]

Burkni, on 25 February 2012 - 03:06 PM, said:

Way more convincing that Boonen on the cobbles. Don't count him out yet in the sprint, he is so strong.

You may be right - I just remembered Vanmarcke got a second place in the final sprint in G-W two years ago!

http://www.dewielers...hp?ritid=150082

Totally forgotten about that. So yeah, he may be faster than I thought after a tough race (like this)

[Burkni]

Flecha is looking to make it three podium appearances in a row ... not bad at all. He is more a guy for the flat cobbled stretches than cobbled climbs so this race suits him very well.

[VdB]

4 in a row actually! 3rd, 1st and 2nd the last three years.

Great race, in any case. These races almost always deliver, it's so great to be back.

[VdB]

Vanmarcke and Flêcha look fresher than Boonen.

[Burkni]

[Burkni]

Without Boonen's work, no freezing way in hell Vanmarcke would have won that. But that's bike racing I guess.

[VdB]

What a gorgeous finale! My heart is beating in my throat.

Boonen did everything well in those lats kms until the sprint...he probably went too early and underestimated Vanmarcke's sprint. Still, Vanmarcke didn't steal the win by any means. He and Boonen made the race. Amazing race from the young gun - his first pro win too! Garmin may not be missing Hushovd too much this year...

[VdB]

Burkni, on 25 February 2012 - 03:32 PM, said:

Without Boonen's work, no freezing way in hell Vanmarcke would have won that. But that's bike racing I guess.

Yeah, true. Still, I kinda like that Boonen tries to make the race himself. He's the anti-Hushovd.

[Mark]

VdB, on 25 February 2012 - 03:33 PM, said:

Yeah, true. Still, I kinda like that Boonen tries to make the race himself. He's the anti-Hushovd.

Great performance from Vanmarcke! Didn't see him beating Boonen in the sprint, but there it is.

[Jayhawk]

We went to the gym, so didn't see the finish. Nice that some kid beat the big guns, and good for Garmin.

"I couldn’t believe my eyes. I beat Tom Boonen, my big hero,” an emotional Vanmarcke said during the post-race interview.

[VdB]

Boom tweeted about the crash incident with Boonen: "Whoops, dammit. That was a bad decision! Good thing I crashed by myself and didn't take any colleagues with me! Legs felt good though!!"

[Burkni]

VdB, on 25 February 2012 - 05:43 PM, said:

Boom tweeted about the crash incident with Boonen: "Whoops, dammit. That was a bad decision! Good thing I crashed by myself and didn't take any colleagues with me! Legs felt good though!!"

I could easily foresee him blaming Boonen.

I still feel only slightly bad that Boonen didn't take it ... I mean it's the one major Belgian classic he has missing in his palmares (*coughs* well apart from that hilly affair that passes through Bastogne)

[mapeifan]

Burkni, on 25 February 2012 - 10:27 PM, said:

I mean it's the one major Belgian classic he has missing in his palmares (*coughs* well apart from that hilly affair that passes through Bastogne)

HA!

great opener for the season though!