Spring Classics 2008 Review
Teams Quick Step and CSC Dominate Classic One-Day Races in Europe
Suite101 looks back at the first four major races of the Spring Classic Season including Milan - San Remo and Paris - Roubaix.
As the month of April gives way to May the thoughts of cycling's professional peloton move towards stage racing and in particular the first grand tour of the year – the Giro d'Italia -- the one-day Spring Classics having been either endured or conquered during the hectic weeks of March and April. So before all attention moves to the exciting stage races ahead, Suite101 takes a look back at the winners of four of the biggest one-day races of the season.
Milan - San Remo
1st Fabian Cancellara (SUI) CSC
2nd Filippo Pozzato (ITA) Liquigas
3rd Philippe Gilbert (FRA) Francais de Jeux
The first Spring Classic, Milan – San Remo, took place in late March in conditions. Approaching the final climb of the day – the famous Poggio - the lead group of four riders, which included double world champion Paulo Bettini, were caught.
A number of attacks were launched on the climb resulting in a group of ten riders going clear. With three kilometres to go Swiss rider Fabian Cancellara pulled away to claim the victory.
After the race Cancellara commented that "I've dreamt so much of winning here. And now I've done it!"(1)
Tour of Flanders (Ronde van Vlaandeeren)
1st Stijn Devolder (BEL) Quick Step
2nd Nick Nuyens (BEL) Cofidis
3rd Juan Antonio Flecha (SPA) Rabobank
Sunday 6th April saw the running of the 93rd edition of the Tour of Flanders. At the start all the talk concerned the chances of Belgium's favourite rider Tom Boonen. However, as things turned out, Boonen was to play the role of the perfect team-mate riding in support of fellow Quick Step rider and compatriot Stijn Devolder. Devolder broke away with 25 kilometres still to ride and managed to hold on to take an unexpected win.
An overjoyed Devolder said “This is the race I’ve always dreamed of winning. To win here in Meerbeke, on my own like this and wearing the Belgian champion’s jersey is just unimaginable.”(2)
Gent-Wevelgem
1st Oscar Freire (SPA) Rabobank
2nd Aurélien Clerc (SWI) Bouygues Telecom
3rd Wouter Weylandt (BEL) Quick Step
With the races now coming thick and fast, this mid-week minor classic took place just three days after the Tour of Flanders. Rabobank's Oscar Freire became the first Spanish winner of Gent – Wevelgem triumphing in a sprint finish.
Throughout the race the peloton reeled in a series of breakaways catching the final one with three kilometres. A number of teams, including Rabobank, Team High Road and Quick Step, all worked hard keen to get their respective sprinters in prime position but it was Freire who prevailed in the tight sprint finish.
Paris-Roubaix
1st Tom Boonen (BEL) Quick Step
2nd Fabian Cancellara (SWI) CSC
3rd Allessandro Ballan (ITA) Lampre
Also known as the Hell of the North, Paris – Roubaix is as tough a race as the professional peloton faces as they traverse the cobbled roads of northern France. A series of attacks as the cobblestoned sections were tackled resulted in the lead group of three riders holding a decisive lead of over one minute with 20 kilometres to go. The three riders entered Roubaix's famous velodrome together with Belgian Tom Boonen holding his nerve to triumph in the sprint finish by only one second. There was then a gap of over 3 minutes then until the fourth placed rider finished.
At the finish of Paris – Roubaix the peloton looked forward to a brief respite. However, the spring classic season was far from over with another three races in the Ardennes region of Belgium still to come.
Sources
"Cancellara Outwits Sprinters to Bag Milan" - San Remo, 22nd March 2008.
"Stijn Devolder of Quick Step Wins Tour of Flanders in Stunner", 6th April 2008.
