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RACE REPORTS: WILLEMS WINS THREE DAYS OF DEPANNE
Brecht Decaluwe'-Classics Correspondent
April 2, 2009
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(Photo: Roberto Bettini)
The traditional warm-up to the Tour of Flanders, the Three Days of DePanne is often known for it's difficult weather conditions. The first edition back in 1977 was won by Belgian classics hardman Roger Rosiers but in the 33rd edition of the semi-classic stage race, spring had sprung in Belgium and the racers enjoyed beautiful, warm weather throughout.
Liquigas' Frederik Willems was handed a prestigious overall win on home soil in the Driedaagse De Panne–Koksijde on Thursday. The Belgian was offered a minute bonus on his closest rivals ahead of the short TT, when in-form Italian Filippo Pozzato (Katusha) decided to skip stage 3b after a late crash during stage 3a ripped the leader's jersey from his shoulders. Willems kept his composure and a 19” lead over Dutchman Joost Posthuma (Rabobank) and his compatriot Tom Leezer in the GC. “I'll celebrate this one with a Leffe [beer] ... I can't believe it yet really,” Willems said as he smiled in the post-race pres conference after winning the GC.
Big win for Pippo in Zottegem; next stop Flanders?
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)
Pozzato Tests Legs on Day 1
During Tuesday's first stage the peloton encountered multiple 'hellingen' (hills) and strong winds during the almost 200km long Stage one went away from coastal town Middelkerke. Silence-Lotto created an early selection that didn't feature any rider of their arch-rival Quick Step and a late reaction from Tom Boonen fell short and only Willems was able to bridge up from behind. Meanwhile, Pozzato, winner of the E3-prijs Vlaanderen on Saturday, showed on every climb that he's is certainly the top favorite for Sunday's Tour of Flanders. Willems also had good legs and anticipated the Valkenberg climb with a solo attack. Pozzato distanced everybody else once again and bridged across to join Willems, his former teammate, up front. The duo build up a massive one minute lead during the final twenty kilometers and eventually Pozzato dominated the sprint in Zottegem for the win.
33rd KBC-Driedaagse De Panne-Koksijde
(Three Days of DePanne)
Belgium, March 31-April 2, 2009
Tuesday, March 31
Stage 1: Middelkerke-Zottegem / 199km
1 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Katusha / 4h37'01" (43.102 km/hr. avg. speed)
2. Frederik Willems (Bel) Liquigas @ same time
3 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) Silence-Lotto @ :57"
General Classification after Stage 1
1. Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Katusha / 4h36'51"
2. Frederik Willems (Bel) Liquigas @ :04"
3. Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) Silence-Lotto @ 1'03"
Cavendish Part 1
Wednesday's stage returned to the coast through the windy 'Moeren' and echelon formations were formed to battle up against the wind and on the legendary cobbled Kemmelberg, there was a nice scrimmage between Boonen and Cavendish. A bunch sprint in Oostduinkerke was unavoidable on Stage 2 and Columbia delivered the Manx Express at 200 meters from the finish line. Cannonball Cavendish easily won ahead of his youth idol Robbie McEwen, repeating last year's stage win in the streets of Koksijde. Pozzato remained in the overall with four seconds on Willems and 1'03” on Greg Van Avermaet (Silence-Lotto).
Wednesday, April 1
Stage 2: Zottegem-Oostduinkerke / 219km
1. Mark Cavendish (GBr) Columbia / 5h07'39" (42.711 km/hr. avg. speed)
2. Robbie McEwen (Aus) Team Katusha
3. Francesco Chichi (Ita) Liquigas @ same time
General Classification after Stage 2
1. Frederik Willems (Bel) Liquigas / 12h15'50"
2. Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Team Katusha @ :29"
Number 8 and counting for Cav
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)
Cavendish does the Double Double
Traditionally the riders get up early on Thursday for stage 3a that loops through the West-Flanders province. Though the gap at the line between them was smaller, Cavendish and McEwen claimed the first two spots once again on Thursday morning. By winning the same two stages Cavendish won last year Columbia's young sprinter made it a 'double double' for his 8th win of 2009. Late crashes in the peloton turned the GC around. Pozzato lost more than half a minute by crashing at 6km from the finish while Willems kept a minute as his crashed within the neutral zone. “Luckily I'm not injured,” Pozzato said. “I'll skip the TT in order to safe energy for Sunday.”
Thursday, April 2
Stage 3A: DePanne-DePanne / 112km
1 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Columbia / 2h31'00" (44.503 km/hr. avg. speed)
2. Robbie McEwen (Aus) Katusha
3. André Schulze (Ger) PSK Whirlpool - Author
57. Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Katusha @ :49"
General Classification after Stage 3A
1. Frederik Willems (Bel) Liquigas / 12h15'50"
2. Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Team Katusha @ :29"
More Britfest with Wiggins in TT, Willems Wins GC
Belgian TT champ Stijn Devolder (Quick.Step) set an early best time over the 14km long loop in DePanne that was eventually only beaten by unknown Lieuwe Westra (Vacansoleil) and eventual winner Bradley Wiggins (Garmin-Slipstream). “You never quite know whether you had a good ride or not and I've already had two second places this year, so third time lucky really,” Wiggins commented on his TT win, while Willems had no trouble to hold on for the overall win in De Panne.
Stage 3B: DePanne ITT / 14.75km
1. Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Garmin-Slipstream / 18'01"
2. Lieuwe Westra (Ned) Vacansoleil @ 20"
3. Stijn Devolder (Bel) Quick Step @ 32"
Driedaagse De Panne-Koksijde / Final General Classification
1. Frederik Willems (Bel) Liquigas
2. Joost Posthuma (Ned) Rabobank
3. Tom Leezer (Ned) Rabobank
4. Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas
5. Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) Silence-Lotto
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