Welcome to this the second monument of the season, Ronde Van Vlandren, we have 22 teams all full of riders vying for a place in imortality.
Lets look at the favourites
Main Contenders:
The number one favourite has to be 2 time defending champion Tom Boonen, he has also won three of the last four and although he has not won on the pave yet this year two podium places in his two races imply that he is ready and expect him to be up there when we role into the finish.
Victory in Weglem leads me to promote Ballan to 2nd favourite, he is currently second in the pro tour rankings and also with a second place in Eroica to his name he is going to be a real threat.
Third favourite is probably Cancellara, his team has controled every cobbled race and has forced all the selections, so he won't miss a split, it's just a question of whether he can finally live up to expectations.
After these three the waters get much more murky Rubaix winner Burghardt is probably next, followed by this years Eroica champion Nuyens, with local favourite Baugnies also up there.
There are plenty of other riders in with a shot, Blythe, Franzoi and Maes to name a few.
As the riders set off we can see that the weathers rubbish but the crowds seem to be out there in force.
We have a break of 6: Merino Criado, Mouris, Lloyd, Vigano, Vinter and Bernaudeau
Nolf punctures, his team drops back
They make it back
63km to go and the break is pulled back
55km to go and Boonen attacks
Cancellara, Franzoi and Burghardt follow
Boonen is left by the other 3
He rides his way back though
Cancellara tries to go solo for the last 43 km
The chasers are caught as Steurs attacks
More splits and we now have 12 riders chasing: Steegmans, Maes, Breschel, Baugnies, Summerhill, Boonen, Van Garderen, Nuyens, Langeveld, Devolder, Burghardt and Ballan
They are 45 seconds behind Cancellara and 33 behind Steurs
Devolder raises the pressure and pulls back Steurs and Cancellara
The downhill causes gaps to be created again as Ballan, Burghardt, Cancellara and Devolder go clear
Maes attacks
Upfront Ballan goes solo
Maes makes it up to the Cancellara group
20km to go and Ballan can see the one minute gap he has created
Baugnies has made it up to Maes, who seems to be struggling
Langeveld and Steegmans are next
Devolder and Burghardt attack as Boonen closes the gap
Cancellara follows
What??? Ballan has a puncture, disaster. Is Sony's luck finally turning?
Devolder and Burghardt have caught him, so he immediately attacks
They can't keep with his increase in pace
Behind Nuyens attacks past a flagging Cancellara
Cancellara and Baugnies try to go after him
Ballan's on the final hill with 15 km to go
Next Burghardt and Devolder 30 seconds back
Nuyens is solo in 4th
THen Cancellara and Baugnies 30 seconds behind Nuyens
Breschel, Boonen and Langeveld are next, 30 seconds further back
Langeveld attacks his companions
We have yet more drama as Devolder punctures in second
He's caught by the fast finishing Langeveld, although like Ballan he attacks
Ballan goes through ten km to go
+51" Burghardt goes under the Banner
+1'37" Nuyens
+2'18" Devolder, Langeveld, Cancellara and Summerhill
+2'51" Baugnies Breschel and Boonen
+3'30" Steegmans, MAes, Steurs and Coyot
4km to go and Boonen catches the Cancellara group
Ahead Ballan wins an excellent Ronde Van Vlaandren continuing his and Sony's excellent run of form.
Burghardt takes 2nd
Nuyens gets an impressive 3rd
Devolder outsprint Boonen for 4th with Cancellara sneaking 5th ahead of Langeveld and Summerhill
Baugnies 9th while Breschel gets a surprise 10th ahead of Maes
Steegmans, Coyot and Steurs are next.
Today though it's all about the new Pro Tour leader, Alessandro Ballan
