Kuurne 07: Steegmans Streaks For Tom
Sunday, March 4, 2007
Day two of the Belgian Classics opener saw more cobbled action under typically gray skies, culminating in a streaking blue finish. Quickstep made their presence felt in the closing kms as they powered the peloton to bring back the escapees and set up Boonen for the win. But anyone watching saw Tom’s lead-out man Gert Steegmans was clearly the fastest.This 60th edition of Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne featured 8 climbs, a cackle of cobbles, spanned 193km, (7km less than yesterday’s Belgian Classics season opener Het Volk), and finished with a 2 lap circuit.
The day featured the expected series of attacks, but save for CSC’s Stuart O’Grady, yesterday’s big boys waited until the finale.
Quickstep before the final 12km were only recognisable by their absence, then they brought out the big guns of Pete van Pete, Speedster Steegmans, Devil de Jongh and the rest, they soon reeled in O’Grady and co. and lastly Pronk and Van Heck – who for a couple of kms looked likethey might stick it. Van Pete answered the question when he was seen pulling the peloton along, setting up Steegmans for the lead-out.
In the final charge to the line it was Steegmans was too strong – flying so fast he had to freewheel to let Boonen win. Will Boonen be ready for San Remo? Or maybe it will be Steegman’s time to shine…
Results: 2007 Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne – 193 km
1. Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step – Innergetic 4.29.50 (42,915 km/h)
2. Marcel Sieberg (Ger) Team Milram
3. Iljo Keisse (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen
4. Sйbastien Chavanel (Fra) Franзaise Des Jeux
5. Gert Steegmans (Bel) Quick Step – Innergetic
6. Kenny Robert Van Hummel (Ned) Skil-Shimano
7. Tomas Vaitkus (Ltu) Discovery Channel Pro
8. Frйdйric Amorison (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Tцnissteiner
9. Tyler Farrar (USA) Cofidis, Le Credit Par
10. Geoffroy Lequatre (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit Par
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