…amazing race or what. I can’t believe that Devloder pulls it off again. Tetsoni, Puskas, send us the buzz from Belgium. They have retrived ownership of their home race. I don’t know about you guys, but this is more exciting than Paris Roubaix.
After watching the race on CyclingTV, I have to give props to Pozzato. He beat Tom Boonen, and that seemed to be his only goal. And props to Boonen, for canceling out clearly the strongest rider in the group. Great job Pippo. Great job.
Boonen for Paris-Roubaix, watch for Canadian Dom Rollin. Cavendish for G-W.
It was a fantastic race. Watching Devloder take off on the second last climb and putting the other people into some serious pain was awesome to watch. I’m glad Haussler got a strong second and I hope that the guys that got caught up in the crash on the finishing straight are okay. What a season it’s been so far! I’ve just been following cycling for a few TdFs and this season in detail and I have to say it’s far more reviting to me than any North American sports. I was yelling at the TV for Cervelo to get a move on; it was great!
Ken
Great race it was amazing to see him win again. He is a beast on the bike and in his home country race. Props for boonen working with the team that goes to chavenel as well… An exciting race all around. Hope to see ole’ george hincapie do some damage at pr.
In those final KMs when Devolder was hammering along on his own, Liggett pointed out that he had raced 150 miles at that point and was probably rolling along at about 30 mph on the flats. Astonishing!
That was awesome! I had just finished my first road race of the season and went on a 40K solo breakaway that my mates help me launch, only to be caught at the line to finish 2nd 
I was nursing the legs watching the Tour of Flanders commisurating with Devolder 
That was really a great race. I surprised how well they held back Boonen and Hincapie.
Good to see you posting,how’s the recovery going?
You weren’t pipped as you were doing a victory salute, were you?
That’s rough that you got caught like that. I haven’t done much road racing, but I’ll never forget the first one I did. If the finish line had come 5 meters earlier, I’d have won … but in those 5 meters I think 25 riders passed me. That really sucked.
Congrats on the 2nd, anyway. I’m sure that’s small consolation.
How was your Georgia trip?
I’ve just been following cycling for a few TdFs and this season in detail and I have to say it’s far more reviting to me than any North American sports
Indeed. It’s a great sport and there is way more going on in cycling than the Tour de France - unfortunatly that is the race that many, in North America in particular are fixated on.
I did not watch yesterdays race but have read the reports and looked at the race pictures. Chavenal was the man for QuickStep - he is clearly in the form of his life but set all that aside yesterday to ride for the team and help set up either Boonen or Devolder.
Good to see you posting,how’s the recovery going?
Thanks for asking … it’s going quite well. I managed over 11 hours on the bike last week. Most of that was on rollers, but I was outside for over 100 solo miles Saturday and Sunday. The lung is fine. The ribs … another story. As long as my butt is on the saddle I’m fine. If I get out of the saddle and try to get some extra power for a climb or an acceleration, that’s pretty excruciating. But it was better Sunday than it was Saturday, so even that aspect is coming along quickly.
I’m not supposed to do any real huffing and puffing until I see the doc again at the end of this week. I’m pushing that envelope a bit, but things seem fine. I rode solo all weekend to avoid the temptation to throw down on anybody.
The worst thing has been sneezing. It’s the height of pollen season. Thankfully, I don’t have big allergy issues. But two or three sneezes have snuck up on me. Picture the scene from “Alien” when the creature busts out of the guy’s chest and you’ve got an idea how a sneeze feels to me right now.
Great to hear. Since this is ST, just tell us that you were putting out 400W during the 100mile ride without huffing and puffing, and you’re set…seriously though, glad you are OK (relatively). Never like to hear guys getting hurt. What kind of rollers are you on? I got some insideride rollers last year and rode them every day since March 1 this year (forced indoors due to a broken ankle).
Dev
Dev,
I’m on the Inside Ride rollers, too. I lack the confidence to take full advantage of the Inside Ride “experience,” but I enjoy them because I can get a lot more resistance than with my old Kreitlers.
I must have missed where you broke your ankle. Sorry to hear about that. How’s that rehab coming? If you’ve been doing rollers for over a month, you must be going absolutely nuts. I feel for you.
I’ll be back on the rollers for a long one today ('cuz we’re having winds of 30+ mph). I’m glad I’ve got a tape of that Tour of Flanders to watch.
Bob
I had a triple hernia surgery two years ago,i was dreading my first sneeze,glad to hear your getting better,the ribs take a while.Now that your wounded come to Gillsville on the 18th maybe i can beat you(insert funny face here)
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How can this thread have gone this long without mention of the terrible wreck coming up to the finish line. That looked as bad as any I’ve ever seen. Brutal.
I am planning to be at Gillsville. It may be more of a Tour of Gillsville for me, rather than a TT. I haven’t raced that course yet, so it’ll be good reconaissance for later. I suspect my biggest issue will be getting off the start line and getting back up to speed out of the turnaround. Maybe they’ll put a rest stop at the turnaround for me.
How can this thread have gone this long without mention of the terrible wreck coming up to the finish line. That looked as bad as any I’ve ever seen. Brutal.
I’ve been amazed at how little I’ve read about it. I don’t know who it was that went down along the barriers on the right (as viewed on TV), but that guy looked like he hit the road face first. I was afraid we were going to be hearing about someone being killed. All I’ve read is that Thor broke his wrist.
Bob, 6 weeks as of this weekend. I was on the rollers with the broken ankle 1 week after the break cause my doc gave me the green light (actually a broken fibula). The riding did wonders for my recovery. 4.5 weeks later the bone was healed up and the roller work was good for the soft tissue…started running 5 weeks in and completed my first running week. Obviously the entire right leg is a bit weak, but it is coming along nicely. I actually ran 32 miles last week. WRT to the rollers, when I broke my ankle, I decided that since it was my only fitness option, I would restrict things to 45 to 60 min daily…usually something like this:
15 min warmup, 2x4min with 1 min rest, sitting up at 260-280W (inside ride chart) on resistance setting 2, then 5x2 min or 8x1 min with 1 minute rest @ 260-290 in aero position at high RPM at resitance setting 1.
This would bring me to 45 minutes…then 20-30 min of weights, initially upper body but after 3 weeks I could do lunges and dead lifts with no ankle pain, so got the go ahead to do it. Then if I had time, 20 min of high RPM riding back on the rollers with my powercrank bike. The workout was short enough to never get bored. I think my longest indoor ride day was 90 minutes. I love the insideride rollers, although I must admit that out of the saddle standing is still somewhat goofy with the rollers bouncing back and forth, so I don’t do it.
Anyway, during my recovery, I wanted to do hard short stuff to get my metabolism jacked up to assist in healing, but I did not want to do anything super long that would drain me and slow down recovery. I also did heavy weights cause of the theory that it helps release HGH when we sleep…also slept >60 hours per week for the first 3 weeks…I think it all helped.
WRT to the flanders crash that was crazy…of course, this is cobbles week, so expect more at GW and PR 
You weren’t pipped as you were doing a victory salute, were you?
That’s rough that you got caught like that. I haven’t done much road racing, but I’ll never forget the first one I did. If the finish line had come 5 meters earlier, I’d have won … but in those 5 meters I think 25 riders passed me. That really sucked.
Congrats on the 2nd, anyway. I’m sure that’s small consolation.
How was your Georgia trip?
GA was awesome - wish you could have been there! I’m the climber on the team, not a sprinter and this road race was hilly, hence my solo. I was so far away following the lead car, I was actually planning my celebration in my mind crossing the line (uphill finish to boot) - arms up, quiet prayer, point to new jersey, etc. I couldn’t see the pack at all. Cramping a little towards the end, but still thought I had the time - 2 young guys get away from the pack when they finally spotted me and I got nipped at the line by a wheel after 25 miles all alone. Sucked big time! Ah well, next race is mostly flat, so I’ll do my job going off, covering attacks, and setting up my horses behind for the ever popular mass sprint where I get to finish 18th or something …
Great to hear you are back on the horse so soon.
I look at the times compared to mine and wonder where i took a rest stop!! Maybe this time i can say hello,i might drive so i can control what/where i go
double ouch. i think it was the guy from asana who did the face plant but no mention of him here.
Flanders accident report
Crashes are common in the Ronde van Vlaanderen and this year was no exception, with several riders sustaining injuries.
Caisse d’Epargne reported that its rider Vicente García Acosta broke the head of his left radius bone. García Acosta fell after 140 kilometres and was transferred to the hospital Elisabeth in Zottegem. The diagnosis was confirmed there and a cast put on his left arm. The rider was able to go to the team’s hotel in the evening.
Less lucky was Frank Høj (Saxo Bank) who broke his collarbone midway through the race. He was also transferred to a hospital in Zottegem. Directeur Sportif Lars Michaelsen indicated on the team’s website that the Spring Classics are over for Høj. “Frank is now being operated on his right collarbone. It’s such a shame that he can’t take part in the upcoming races because he was in really good condition and could have helped us … today, and Sunday in Paris-Roubaix.”
Thor Hushovd was almost at the finish line when he crashed in Meerbeke. The Norwegian of the Cervélo TestTeam broke his wrist.