2008 Tour of Flanders
Belgium's own Stijn Devolder holds on to take victory in de Ronde
Belgian cycling celebrates a new hero as Stijn Devolder's lone breakaway stuns the peloton and brings victory to the host nation in the 93rd edition of de Ronde.
Belgium has a new cycling hero this week as reigning Belgium National Cycling Champion, Stijn Devolder, rode to an unexpected victory in De Ronde de Vlandeeren (Tour of Flanders), one of cycling's biggest one-day classics, on Sunday.
Four Seasons in one Day
The traditional start in the city of Brugge's marketplace was bathed in pale sunshine as the peloton set off on the winding route south-east through Flanders' country. As is often the case at the Tour of Flanders, the weather would prove to be varied and the riders would soon encounter bouts of rain, hail and even snow before they reached the finish in Ninove.
Break away
Devolder, riding for Team Quick Step, broke away from the leading group of 30 plus riders with 25 kilometres of the 263 kilometre race and, crucially, a number of critical, murderous climbs, still to ride.
The 28 year old, who was born in Flanders, managed to open up a lead of some 35 seconds by the time he reached the foot of the penultimate climb – the Muur-Kapelmuur at Gerhaardsbergen, only 15 kilometres from the finish.
Short but Steep
The Muur, probably the best known of all the 18 climbs that feature on the route of De Ronde, may be short at only 475 metres but it is devilishly steep with a maximum gradient of 20%. As if that isn't bad enough the climb is also paved with cobblestones and is truly a test of a cyclist's stamina.
The Muur also serves as a magnet to Flanders' feverish fans who generate an atmosphere quite unlike anywhere else in cycling. True to form they roared themselves hoarse cheering Devolder on as he inched his way to the chapel at the top.
Boonen the perfect team mate
Tom Boonen, Quick Step's team leader and one of the pre-race favourites, was prominent in the chasing bunch but, with 12 kilometres to go, he changed his plans and worked to protect his team-mates lead by refusing to ride on the front of the bunch. With the other favourites in the chasing bunch unwilling to take share the work, Devolder was able to maintain a slender, yet ultimately decisive, lead over the chasing riders.
With the climbs behind him Devolder was able to effectively time-trial to the finish in Ninove where he recorded a winning time of 6 hours, 24 minutes and 2 seconds. He finished 15 seconds ahead of second placed Nick Nuyens of Cofidis and Rabobank's Juan Antonio Flecha, who can take great pride in recording the first ever podium finish by a Spanish rider in de Ronde.
Speaking after the race a jubilant Devolder said “This is the most beautiful race there is, and if you win this, it's like a dream. I can't believe it.”
