Jakstar22 - Cheers Well, as long as I copy myself, there's no problem and like I say in the introduction spoiler, I'm not quite done with Stijn nor Willy
Omloop will have to wait a bit. Computer running slower and slower so right now I'm doing all sorts of scans and whatnot, try to clean up my computer a bit!
Welcome to Ghent, my home town! A milestone in my young career as I will race my first Omloop het Nieuwsblad! I'm very excited but also keen on putting up a good performance. Every young Belgian dreams about these races and I'm no different. Today I'll find out just how much chance I make to become a true Flandrien.
It's my first classic, so I haven't set any real target for today's race. I want to support the team and we'll see where I end up.
After sitting comfortably in the pack today, Jurgen had to announce he didn't have good legs today. That meant we had to play the game a bit more aggressively. I went to the front and with 65 km to go, I spread my wings and flew away from the peloton. On the cobbles of Flanders, it was the most amazing feeling!
Fifteen minutes later, I joined the breakaway, which was still up the road.
I saw mostly worn out faces already as the pace had been quite high at the front. 10 kilometers later, I left them behind on a tough cobbled section. I had over 3 minutes on the peloton and I felt strong!
But when I was at the front, riding my own race, the real race broke loose in the background. Within minutes, I saw a shadow looming over my shoulder. Just under 20 kilometers to go, the remaining peloton caught up with me. My race was mostly over, but I had done well, showing the sponsor for over 40 kilometers!
Luckily, there were no huge attacks, and so I was able to drift along to the final 5 kilometers. A spot within the top 25 was a real possibility.
Tom Boonen fills up one of the final gaps in his palmares and is the winner of the Omloop 2012.
I crossed the line 23th, impressed by the huge crowd here. I've never quite seen a race like this. I got some major chills riding into my home town Ghent today. I hope I can return here one day and cross that line first.
All in all, it's been a great day for me, personally. I managed a 40 kilometer effort of which I can definitely be proud. The team didn't perform too well, though. We still have some work for the Flanders' Classics later this season. But we still have time, and by today's race I might've raced me into the Ronde selection!
A brave performance from Stijn, shows promise for the future. Also, I wonder when his hype train would start here
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [PT] Xero Racing
I survived the Oude Kwaremont well, along with most of the guys in the team.
Getting into the final 50 kilometers, which are flat, it was time for part 2 of the plan. I got into the relay and it was now my job to eliminate and neutralize any attack.
My role in the team became clear when there was an attack by Cancellara and Scheirlinckx. I jumped to his wheel and wouldn't relay.
I did just that and I managed to neutralize Scheirlinckx, Cancellara was still up front, though.
But we didn't panic. We still had 5 guys in the main group of 28! So we set up our lead-out train. I set myself at the head and emptied my reserves. Then it was Bak, Debusschere, Roelandts, Greipel.
It's a feeling hard to describe. Being part of this victory tastes sweeter than I would've thought. It's as if I have won myself. We'll be celebrating tonight. Though not too wildly, as the 3-daagse West-Vlaanderen is coming up in less than a week!
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [PT] Xero Racing
While Greipel and Van Den Broeck are getting ready for starting Paris-Nice, we're here in West-Vlaanderen for three racing days. It's an important race for the team and for us, personally.
Stijn: I have highlighted this race at the start of the season. I'll be hoping for a good prologue and then the two road stages should suit me fine. Narrow streets with plenty of twists and turns along with cobblestones here and there. My form is good and I hope to perform well here! Stage 2 in particular has a final kilometer cut out for me. An uphill finish where the powerful sprinters get a chance!
Willy: It's not a profile suited to my abilities, but I hope to put in a good performance nonetheless. After the prologue, I'll put myself in the service of the team and make lots of kilometers at the front, doing some additional training.
Willy Wouters
The opening time trial was a personal goal for me, here.
Unfortunately, I couldn't get into a good rhythm, and so I finished 50th, 23 seconds down on the winner.
The winner and now favorite for this Driedaagse was Taylor Phinney. The American set an amazing time here.
The remaining two stages were actually quite good. In total, I did about 170 kilometers at the front, so that's amazing training! In the end, I came out 133th, with 14 minutes down on the race winner, but that shouldn't get me down.
Stijn Van Gent
During stage 2, the rain was pouring down. During the final 20 kilometers, it got a bit better, but I didn't mind at all. Nearing the finale, with lots of narrow streets, we went to the front and made the pace!
As I expected, the final kilometer was almost build especially for me. I made my acceleration going uphill! To my surprise, I saw I created a small gap!
Once up the hill, it was only a matter of seconds before crossing the finish line. I looked behind me and saw nobody was coming, yet I still couldn't believe it. I put up a fist only after I had crossed the finish line. Yes!
After a good prologue, where I lost only 18 seconds to Phinney, I now even had the leader's jersey, with one seconds on Ghyselinck and two seconds on Phinney!
A strong breakaway went up the road, and our team was caught by surprise. Everyone in the team emptied himself for me, but still the gap was dangerously wide. Me and Jens (Debusschere) were the only ones left, so we had to ride to protect the jersey!
Our search for the break was helped by the weather. The peloton was falling apart on these bad roads.
We caught the break with 5 kilometers to go, but we couldn't slow down, then. The peloton was completely breaking apart now and we only had a few riders still left with us. I know these roads inside out and I know the finish, so we went all in!
In a thrilling sprint with Van Dijk, I managed to come out as the better man and win the second stage in a row! Needless to say, I also take the overall classification, what a three days!
After crossing the finish line, I was overwhelmed with joy, but also by information-hungry reporters!
Stijn Van Gent. Congratulations. You win back to back victories and win the Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen in a dominating fashion.
It's amazing. I came here with the hope of scoring my first victory, but to do it like that, two days on a row, I never could've hoped for that. They say Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen is the race for discovering new talents. Will this raise the bar for your Flanders' Classics campaign?
I think not. Today I'm a very happy man and I'm really thankful for the entire team, they worked their butts off for me. But in the Flanders' Classics, we have an amazingly strong team with Jurgen. I'm fully committed to being a good team mate for him. You're 21 years old and a first year pro. In your third race, you already take two stage victories and sweep away the competition. Can you tell us your secret?
Well, I'm on great shape at the moment, and I was hoping to cash it in with a prize. But good legs alone don't do it, you need a good team and a bit of luck thrown your way. Today and yesterday, I had all those things, and then you just need to be confident in that sprint. Where will we see you next?
I believe Nokere Koerse is planned next for me. Will you demand a leading role there, now?
That's up to the team. Of course, I hope to have a protected role and do my thing there, but we'll have to see. Thanks and it was very nice to meet you, Stijn Van Gent. With no doubt, we'll see you more often in the future.
Thanks.
The Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen has been fantastic on me. I never expected this, not in my wildest dreams. But, like I said in the interview, with good legs and a bit of luck, you can achieve great things.
These victories are a sign I'm doing well, so I won't slow down, now. I'm even hungrier than before. Nokere Koerse is next, I couldn't be more excited!
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [PT] Xero Racing
haha just kidding great job with this Ian!
