Sunday 04 April 2010 at 16h32
The Tour of Flanders 2010, also known as De Ronde (of Ronde van Vlaanderen, the Flemmish name of the race), was won by Fabian Cancellara (Team Saxo Bank) this afternoon.
The 94th edition was very selective as usual, but surprisingly the two big favourites created a decisive gap with still 45 kilometers to go. First they worked together but it was finally the Swiss rider of the Danish team who placed the decisive attack in Geraardsbergen to become the second Swiss in the history of the Tour of Flanders to win this classic.
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A summary of the Tour of Flanders 2010
This morning, a bit after 9.45AM, a 198 riders strong peloton took the start of Vlaanderens Mooiste on the Market of Brugge.Immediately after the start a leading group was formed after an attack by the Spanish rider Vicente Garcia Acosta of the Caisse d'Epargne team, accompanied in this group by Michele Merlo (Footon-Servetto),
The group of 8 riders continued to extend its gap until Quick Step and Team Sky and later also Team Saxo Bank try to get back on them.
In the Knokteberg two riders of the leading group, Michele Merlo and David Boucher can no longer follow while several riders in the peloton have to put a foot on the ground since the Saxo Bank team slows down at the head of the peloton without allowing any rider to get away.
In the climb of the Oude Kwaremont, Nicolas Rousseau and William Bonnaire are the next riders to leave the leading group which is led at that time by Floris Goesinnen.
A bit further, a small group of favourites temporarily gets away from the peloton. In this group Matti Breschel and Fabian Cancellara represent Saxo Bank, Tom Boonen Quick Step, but Thor Hushovd (Cervélo TestTeam), Leif Hoste (Omega Pharma-Lotto), George Hincapie (BMC Racing Team), Juan Antonio Flecha (Team Sky) and Steve Chainel (Bbox Bouygues Telecom) are present as well. Rapidly these favourites allow other riders to join them, while Juan Antonio Flecha is the 5th rider who can no longer follow the 3 other riders of the leading group.
On the Eikenberg, 4 riders of Team Sky take the lead of this group and bridge the gap with the 3 leading riders at 60 kilometers from the finish. A bit later Team Saxo Bank seems to lose all hopes for a potential victory because after Fabian Cancellara having to change his bike, Matti Breschel has to make a change as well, twice!
While the Danish rider is in trouble, his team mate Fabian Cancellara surprises everyone by placing an attack at 45 kilometers from the finish and only the Flemmish rider Tom Boonen (Quick Step) can follow him!
In the climb of the Berendries, Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) and Björn Leukemans (Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team) try their last chance and bridge the gap with the Scottish rider.
He stays ahead and a very happy Fabian Cancellara (Team Saxo Bank) crosses the finish line of this 94th edition of the Tour of Flanders alone with a Swiss flag in his hand!
Not really surprising when we know that since Heinrich Sutter in 1923 no other Swiss had ever won the Tour of Flanders!
Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) sprints for the third place ahead of Björn Leukemans (Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team) who finished 4th.
The classification of the Tour of Flanders 2010
The top 10 of this Ronde is as follows:1/ Fabian Cancellara (Team Saxo Bank)
2/ Tom Boonen (Quick Step)
3/ Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto)
4/ Björn Leukemans (Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team)
5/ Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Transitions)
6/ George Hincapie (BMC Racing Team)
7/ Roger Hammond (Cervélo TestTeam)
8/ Maxim Iglinsky (Astana)
9/ Danilo Hondo (Lampre-Farnese Vini)
10/ William Bonnet (Bbox Bouygues Telecom) door Thomas Vergouwen
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3 comments | 3237 views
this publication is published in: Cycling general (except Tour de France) | Classics
Hallucinant démarrage de Cancellara ! Quelle puissance !
Mes impressions : http://www.portailduvelo.fr/2010/04/04/cancellara-ajoute-le-ronde-a-son-palmares/
Magnifique podium après une très grande course. Rendez-vous à Roubaix dans six jours !!!
Ik heb een mooi filmpje gevonden over het jaar 2010 van cancellara zover , als je het wilt zien, ga naar: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcNBkQXPFog