Nuyens Stuns Cancellara to Take Flanders!

In one of the most unconventional Tour of Flanders in recent memory, Nick Nuyens played the strategy card at the perfect time to stun many of the race favorites battling against each other. The Tour of Flanders is a race every Belgian dreams of, and it was a day of nonstop action right up to the final 100 meters.

After the 5 man morning breakaway had been reeled in, it was time for the big dogs to come out to play.

Sylvain Chavanel was the first serious contender to throw his name in the hat, and he would essentially keep it there all day. Chavanel attacked along with Astana's Simon Clarke and soon the two were clear of the peloton. Edvald Boasson-Hagen and Lars Boom would soon make it a group of four, but the real action was in the back.

The peloton had figured out how to temporarily pin back Cancellara, using a series of brief attacks to raise the pace one after another. Chavanel had gone clear alone on the Molenberg, and was tearing up the road. Despite his teammate's determination, Tom Boonen decided to make the most confusing move of the race. Boonen launched his attack with about 6o km out, but he picked up the one man he so desperately wanted to leave behind.

Fabian Cancellara had been sitting on his second wheel, and immediately marked his acceleration. Filippo Pozzato had also managed to mark the move, but neither he nor Boonen could control what was about to happen next. As the trio approached the group of original leaders dropping back, Cancellara used the confusion of the new riders to gain separation and Spartacus was soon off to the races alone after Chavanel. It wasn't long before Cancellara had caught up to Chavanel, and the Frenchman was forced to alter his strategy. He sat up and refused to do any work, and simply just tried to hold Cancellara's wheel. Spartacus tore across the Belgian roads like he has done so often, and at this point you could have almost considered the race to be a done deal.

But then just as the field hit the famous Muur, the unthinkable happened. Fabian Cancellara's legs exploded on the climb that he had been so dominant on just a year beforehand. The chasing groups behind actually caught up on the Muur for the first time that I can remember. On the climb that had become so famous for deciding the race, it was all of a sudden anyone's game.

The group of 12 chugged it's way to the Bosberg, when Philippe Gilbert gave it his best shot. He launched a strong attack on the Bosberg, and then carried his advantage into the final 10 km of flat roads leading into the finish. His gap never was allowed to get over 20 seconds, though, thanks to the dedicated pacemaking done by Sky boys Geraint Thomas and Juan Antonio Flecha. The race was all compact again heading into what looked to be a sprint, and things were looking good for sprinter Tom Boonen.

But then Mr Cancellara put in one final dig, and was able to get some separation from the peloton with less than 5 km remaining. He was not alone, though, as none other than Sylvain Chavanel was on his wheel again. Eventual winner Nick Nuyens also recognized the importance of this move, and dug deep to hold Chavanel's wheel.

Even as they approached the final stretch, both Chavanel and Nuyens still forced Cancellara to do all the work. To make matters worse for Cancellara, Tom Boonen had launched an attack behind him and was closing fast. Cancellara had to kick early, and allowed Nuyens to easily respond to his move and step in for the biggest win of his career.

Nuyens actually found himself in a bit of trouble earlier in the race, but he never gave up and fought his way back into contention. He was the smartest rider in the peloton, and waited until exactly the perfect time to make his moves. Chavanel raced an incredible race, and Cancellara gave a superhuman effort but the best they could come up with were the lower steps of the podium.

Results

1. Nick Nuyens (BEL), Saxo Bank Sungard, 6:01:20
2. Sylvain Chavanel (FRA), Quickstep Cycling Team, s.t.
3. Fabian Cancellara (SUI), Leopard Trek, s.t.
4. Tom Boonen (BEL), Quickstep Cycling Team, at 2
5. Sebastian Langeveld (NED), Rabobank Cycling Team, at 5
6. George Hincapie (USA), Bmc Racing Team, at 5
7. Björn Leukemans (BEL), Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling Team, at 5
8. Staf Scheirlinckx (BEL), Veranda’s Willems-Accent, at 5
9. Philippe Gilbert (BEL), Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 5
10. Geraint Thomas (GBR), Sky Procycling, at 5
11. Juan Antonio Flecha (ESP), Sky Procycling, at 5
12. Alessandro Ballan (ITA), Bmc Racing Team, at 9
13. Tyler Farrar (USA), Team Garmin-Cervelo, at 1:24
14. Bernhard Eisel (AUT), Htc-Highroad, at 1:24
15. Dominique Rollin (CAN), Fdj, at 1:24
16. Danilo Hondo (GER), Lampre-Isd, at 1:24
17. Lloyd Mondory (FRA), Ag2r La Mondiale, at 1:24
18. Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (ESP), Movistar Team, at 1:24
19. Fabio Duque Leonardo (COL), Cofidis, at 1:24
20. Maarten Wynants (BEL), Rabobank Cycling Team, at 1:24
21. Mathew Hayman (AUS), Sky Procycling, at 1:24
22. Greg Van Avermaet (BEL), Bmc Racing Team, at 1:24
23. William Bonnet (FRA), Fdj, at 1:24
24. Sébastien Minard (FRA), Ag2r La Mondiale, at 1:24
25. Marcus Burghardt (GER), Bmc Racing Team, at 1:24
26. Dennis Van Winden (NED), Rabobank Cycling Team, at 1:24
27. Aaen JÖrgensen Jonas (DEN), Saxo Bank Sungard, at 1:24
28. Thomas Voeckler (FRA), Team Europcar, at 1:24
29. Vincent Jerome (FRA), Team Europcar, at 1:24
30. Matteo Tosatto (ITA), Saxo Bank Sungard, at 1:24
31. Bert Scheirlinckx (BEL), Landbouwkrediet, at 1:24
32. Gert Steegmans (BEL), Quickstep Cycling Team, at 1:24
33. Marco Marcato (ITA), Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling Team, at 1:24
34. Ytting Bak Lars (DEN), Htc-Highroad, at 1:24
35. Tomas Vaitkus (LTU), Pro Team Astana, at 1:24
36. Frédéric Guesdon (FRA), Fdj, at 1:24
37. Lars Boom (NED), Rabobank Cycling Team, at 1:24
38. Vladimir Isaichev (RUS), Katusha Team, at 1:24
39. Serguei Ivanov (RUS), Katusha Team, at 1:24
40. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR), Sky Procycling, at 1:24
41. Arnoud Van Groen (NED), Veranda’s Willems-Accent, at 1:24
42. Grégory Rast (SUI), Team Radioshack, at 1:24
43. Vladimir Gusev (RUS), Katusha Team, at 1:24
44. Dmitriy Muravyev (KAZ), Team Radioshack, at 1:24
45. Sébastien Hinault (FRA), Ag2r La Mondiale, at 1:24
46. Thomas Leezer (NED), Rabobank Cycling Team, at 2:37
47. Kristof Goddaert (BEL), Ag2r La Mondiale, at 4:29
48. Thomas De Gendt (BEL), Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling Team, at 4:29
49. Michael Schär (SUI), Bmc Racing Team, at 4:29
50. Ian Stannard (GBR), Sky Procycling, at 4:29
51. Alexandre Pichot (FRA), Team Europcar, at 4:29
52. Dries Devenyns (BEL), Quickstep Cycling Team, at 4:29
53. Thor Hushovd (NOR), Team Garmin-Cervelo, at 4:29
54. Jurgen Roelandts (BEL), Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 4:29
55. Stijn Devolder (BEL), Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling Team, at 4:29
56. Leif Hoste (BEL), Katusha Team, at 4:29
57. Luca Paolini (ITA), Katusha Team, at 8:02
58. Gustav Larsson (SWE), Saxo Bank Sungard, at 8:02
59. Manuel Quinziato (ITA), Bmc Racing Team, at 8:02
60. Danilo Wyss (SUI), Bmc Racing Team, at 8:02
61. Heinrich Haussler (AUS), Team Garmin-Cervelo, at 8:02
62. Gorka Izagirre Insausti (ESP), Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 9:14
63. Robbie Mcewen (AUS), Team Radioshack, at 12:37
64. Andriy Grivko (UKR), Pro Team Astana, at 12:37
65. Martin Velits (SVK), Htc-Highroad, at 12:37
66. Imanol Erviti (ESP), Movistar Team, at 12:37
67. Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (BEL), Quickstep Cycling Team, at 12:37
68. Kevin Van Impe (BEL), Quickstep Cycling Team, at 12:37
69. Stuart O’grady (AUS), Leopard Trek, at 12:37
70. Simon Clarke (AUS), Pro Team Astana, at 12:37
71. Kevin Ista (BEL), Cofidis, at 13:30
72. James Vanlandschoot (BEL), Veranda’s Willems-Accent, at 15:28
73. Geert Steurs (BEL), Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator, at 15:28
74. Laurens De Vreese (BEL), Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator, at 15:28
75. Vicente Reynes Mimo (ESP), Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 15:28
76. André Greipel (GER), Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 15:28
77. Marcel Sieberg (GER), Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 15:28
78. Cyril Gautier (FRA), Team Europcar, at 15:28
79. Davy Commeyne (BEL), Landbouwkrediet, at 15:28
80. Maxim Gourov (KAZ), Pro Team Astana, at 15:28
81. Sébastien Turgot (FRA), Team Europcar, at 15:28
82. Geert Verheyen (BEL), Landbouwkrediet, at 15:28
83. Jan Ghyselinck (BEL), Htc-Highroad, at 15:28
84. Klaas Lodewyck (BEL), Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 15:28
85. Jaroslaw Marycz (POL), Saxo Bank Sungard, at 15:28
86. Steve Chainel (FRA), Fdj, at 15:28
87. Baden Cooke (AUS), Saxo Bank Sungard, at 15:28
88. Arnaud Labbe (FRA), Cofidis, at 15:28
89. Pieter Jacobs (BEL), Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator, at 15:28
90. Michael Morkov (DEN), Saxo Bank Sungard, at 15:28
91. Maarten Tjallingii (NED), Rabobank Cycling Team, at 15:28
92. Bert De Backer (BEL), Skil-Shimano, at 15:28
93. Geoffroy Lequatre (FRA), Team Radioshack, at 15:28
94. John Degenkolb (GER), Htc-Highroad, at 15:28
95. Kristijan Koren (SLO), Liquigas-Cannondale, at 15:28
96. Frédéric Amorison (BEL), Landbouwkrediet, at 15:28
97. Preben Van Hecke (BEL), Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator, at 15:28
98. Andrey Amador Bakkazakova (CRC), Movistar Team, at 15:28
99. Borut Bozic (SLO), Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling Team, at 15:28
100. Koen De Kort (NED), Skil-Shimano, at 15:28
101. Tom Stamsnijder (NED), Leopard Trek, at 15:28
102. Jean-pierre Drucker (LUX), Veranda’s Willems-Accent, at 15:28
103. Steve Houanard (FRA), Ag2r La Mondiale, at 15:28
104. Francisco José Ventoso Alberdi (ESP), Movistar Team, at 15:28
105. Ignatas Konovalovas (LTU), Movistar Team, at 15:28
106. Jens Keukeleire (BEL), Cofidis, at 15:28
107. Nico Sijmens (BEL), Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 15:28
108. Roger Hammond (GBR), Team Garmin-Cervelo, at 15:28
109. Dominic Klemme (GER), Leopard Trek, at 15:28
110. Mark Cavendish (GBR), Htc-Highroad, at 15:28
111. Ben Swift (GBR), Sky Procycling, at 15:28
112. Tom Veelers (NED), Skil-Shimano, at 15:28
113. Andreas Klier (GER), Team Garmin-Cervelo, at 15:28
115. Francisco Llorente (ESP), Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 17:51
114. David Boucher (FRA), Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 17:51
116. Aleksejs Saramotins (LAT), at 17:51
117. Carlos Oyarzun (CHI), Movistar Team, at 17:51
118. Yuriy Krivtsov (FRA), Ag2r La Mondiale, at 17:51
119. Bram Schmitz (NED), Veranda’s Willems-Accent, at 17:51
120. Fumiyuki Beppu (JPN), Team Radioshack, at 17:51
121. Dominique Cornu (BEL), Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator, at 17:51
122. Daniel Oss (ITA), Liquigas-Cannondale, at 17:51
123. Dmytro Krivtsov (UKR), Lampre-Isd, at 17:51
124. Steven Van Vooren (BEL), Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator, at 17:51
125. Romain Zingle (BEL), Cofidis, at 17:51
126. Yohann Gene (FRA), Team Europcar, at 17:51
127. Kasper Klostergaard Larsen (DEN), Saxo Bank Sungard, at 17:51
128. Mirco Lorenzetto (ITA), Pro Team Astana, at 17:51
129. David Veilleux (CAN), Team Europcar, at 17:51
130. Romain Lemarchand (FRA), Ag2r La Mondiale, at 17:51
131. Assan Bazayev (KAZ), Pro Team Astana, at 17:51
132. Martin Reimer (GER), Skil-Shimano, at 17:51
133. Jon Izaguirre Insausti (ESP), Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 17:51
134. Andreas Stauff (GER), Quickstep Cycling Team, at 17:51
135. Ronan Van Zandbeek (NED), Skil-Shimano, at 17:51