|
|
RACE REPORTS: RACE REPORT: HUSHOVD WINS BELGIAN SEASON OPENER HET NIEUWSBLAD
Road Bike Action & AFP
February 28, 2009
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)
The god of thunder rumbled Saturday afternoon in Gent, Belgium when big
Norwegian sprinter Thor Hushovd (Cervélo) took the sprint win in Het
Nieuwsblad (ex-Het-Volk), ahead of Belgian surprise Kevyn Ista
(Agritubel) and Spanish classics specialist Juan Antonio Flecha
(Rabobank). Fresh from a stage win at the Tour Of California, Hushovd
had a perfect lead-out from his Cervélo teammate Andreas Klier in the
hectic finale for his 50th pro win. The last kilometer was marked by
crashes of Filippo Pozzato (Katusha) and Milram's Slovakian speedster
Martin Velits. Big Thor explained post race "I was ahead of the
crashes and with 200m. to go, my teammate Andreas Klier yelled at me to
go, so I did." Today was the first win by a Norwegian rider in the Het
Nieuwsblad. "This is unexpected, I thought Haussler
would have it," Hushovd said. "I thought he and Langeveld had all the
chance to sprint for victory."
Hushovd's Cervélo teammate Haussler and Sebastian Langeveld (Rabobank)
got away with 50km to go and all of the favorites teams (Quick Step,
with Boonen & Chavanel and Silence-Lotto, with 2008 winner Gilbert
and Van Avermaet) were just looking at each other over the last part of
the race, and the lead duo was caught with just 300m. to go. "It was a
real team victory because the whole squad was strong today", said
winner Hushovd."Heinrich was ahead and there were a lot of our riders
to control the race in the chase group. Thanks a lot to all my
teammates."
The Race
The day started with an early break of David Boucher of
Landbouwkrediet, Hervé Duclos-Lassalle of Cofidis, Jean Zen of Palmans
, Guillaume Blot of Cofidis and Wim De Vocht of Vacansoleil.
A four-man group including Caethoven of Agritubel, Maarten Tjallingii
of Rabobank, Aleksandr Kuschynski of Liquigas and Björn Thurau of Elk
Haus where closing in on the five-man break at the front, but ended up
getting disqualified. The four went through a closed railroad crossing.
With just under 60-kilometers to go Rabobank broke the race apart on
the Taaienberg, After the climb four riders from the team rode off the
front – Nick Nuyens, Sebastian Langeveld, Juan Antonio Flecha and Joost
Posthuma.
Fearing a Rabobank sweep, the peloton chased hard and with
45-kilometers to go all the favorites came together at the front of
race. The front group contained Tom Boonen, Sylvain Chavanel, Leif
Hoste, Gilbert, Greg Van Avermaet, Nuyens, Langeveld, Flecha, Posthuma,
Bram Tankink, Haussler, Andreas Klier, Hushovd, Pozzato, Marcus
Burghardt, Tomas Vaitkus, and Kevyn Ista
An attack by Langeveld and Haussler set up the finish, with Hoste and
Chavanel doing most of the chasing. Their efforts paid off as Haussler
and Langeveld were caught in the final three hundred meters. With the
break caught the Cervélo TestTeam took control and gave Hushovd a
perfect lead-out and placed two other riders in the top ten.
64th Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
1. Thor Hushovd (Nor) Cervelo Test Team 4.47.45 (42.641 km/h)
2. Kevyn Ista (Bel) Agritubel
3. Juan Antonio Flecha (Spa) Rabobank
4. Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) Silence-Lotto
5. Marcus Burghardt (Ger) Team Columbia - Highroad
6. Frédéric Amorison (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - Colnago
7. Andreas Klier (Ger) Cervelo Test Team
8. Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Cervelo Test Team
9. Niki Terpstra (Ned) Team Milram
10. Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|