Tom Boonen (Etixx-QuickStep) proved that he is still a very capable sprinter as he continued his great spring season by taking his second victory at the Brussels Cycling Classic. After a great lead-out from his team, he powered up the uphill finishing straight and narrowly held off Arnaud Demare (FDJ), with Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis), completing the podium.

 

We have gathered a few reactions.

 

Victorious Tom Boonen: I asked Marcel Kittel to work for me

Since extending his contract with Etixx – Quick-Step in July and announcing that he'll put an end to his career after next year's Paris-Roubaix – a race with which he identifies since turning pro – Tom Boonen is enjoying a true Indian summer, which saw him claim three important wins so far: RideLondon Classic, stage 1 of the Tour de Wallonie (which got him two days in the yellow jersey) and Brussels Cycling Classic, one of the oldest races in the calendar, where he already triumphed, back in 2012.

 

Excellent guided by his teammates and ideally placed in the final 400 meters, Tom Boonen launched his sprint early, after a strong lead-out of Nikolas Maes, and despite having Arnaud Demare (FDJ) and Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis) on his wheel, he kept both French riders at bay and crossed the line victorious, after a demonstration of wit and raw power.

 

"I am very happy for getting this win, the team did a perfect job throughout the day and provided an excellent lead-out in the final kilometer. The race was a fast and frantic one, with many attacks and narrow roads, but I am really satisfied of how things went", said Tom Boonen after bagging Etixx – Quick-Step's 46th victory of the year.

 

"Yesterday, I talked with Marcel and asked him if he's ok with me going for the sprint and he agreed. On top of that, he also helped me today, so chapeau to him! When Nikolas started his lead-out, FDJ came to the front on the right side of the road, so I decided to go. It was a little bit too early, but I kept something for the last 150 meters, when I pushed 100%. It wasn't easy, but it's really great to win again here. This victory bodes well for the next races of the season and for the World Championships in Qatar.

 

“I’m very proud of the victory today. Not only did I beat a few fast guys, but there was also a discussion last night about who was going to do the sprint and I asked for the opportunity to show that I had good condition.

 

“If you ask that, and you can deliver, then it’s always double the reason to be happy. If you ask for that pressure to win the race and you lose, that’s a different story. That’s why I am happiir than normal that I could finish it off today.

 

"We agreed last night. We have a similar program, and both compete for the captaincy at the Worlds in Qatar. Yesterday I specifically asked him to be allowed to get my chance and promised to work for him in the coming weeks. I can finish it off so it is a double reason to be happy. I am very proud to win a second time here.

 

"I had asked my team not to drop me off too early. I know it's a tricky finish here. I even won on my spare bike. The good ones are already in Canada for next week. 100 meters from the finish I could accelerate and I felt that there was more left.

 

“After the Classics this year, with Paris-Roubaix, I felt that I was improving again after the injury to my skull last year. From that point on I said, ‘OK, if I can improve a little bit more and get to my old level again then I will be a very happy guy,’ and that injury was only a year ago now.

“For the moment, I feel OK. I don’t feel super yet but my sprint is there and that is the most important. I’ve been working hard on my sprint and I’m happy that I had the confidence of my team today.”

 

”I have an alternative program in preparation for the Worlds. It is important to be as fresh as possible after a tough season. I now race every weekend, but I only have sessions a week. I have ambitions for the Worlds. After my crash I wanted to show one more time that I can reach the level to be up there with the fast riders.”

 

Arnaud Demare proud to be back on the podium after bad crash

"I have to thank my teammates because they had full confidence in me,” Demare told Het Nieuwsblad. "During the team meeting, they said that I was the leader. I didn’t want too much pressure because I'm still not on top after my crash in Poitou Charentes and a difficult GP Plouay. But they decided that I was the best sprinter and so they went to work for me. I am pleased that I was second behind Boonen. If I had responded one second earlier, I might even have won. After my crash I'm happy that I am back on the podium. That gives us confidence for the next races."

 

Nacer Bouhanni: Given the circumstances, I have to be content with third place

"I chose the wheel of Boonen and so was placed well behind the Quick Step train,” Nacer Bouhani told Het Nieuwsblad. “Suddenly I was passed on the right side, so I had to wait too long to start my effort. When I could get clear, it was already too late.  I do not think it was strange that Boonen was chosen as the sprinter from Quick Step. For a long time, he has had very good condition and showed that with a few victories. Also, remember that this is a difficult course. Moreover, the finishing straight is not to be underestimated. This is slightly uphill so it is something for riders with a lot of leg strength. I'd much rather have won, but given the circumstances, I should be content with third place.”

 

Sacha Modolo back on track with fourth place in Brussels

Sacha Modolo was close to the podium in fourth place. Earlier on his teammates Rui Costa and Matej Mohoric had been on the attack.

"I'm fairly satisfied with this result, especially comparing the performance with the one I did in the Cyclassics Hamburg,” Modolo explained. “After two weeks during which I trained intensely, my form is good and I succeeded in battling against the other top sprinters.  The sprint was very fast, despite the light ascent of the final straight, and it was not possible to pass the opponents".

 

Lars Boom on the attack, bad legs for Guardini

Astana Pro Team had Lars Boom for the attacks in the final and Andrea Guardini for the bunch sprint.

 

“In reason of the fact that there were not many ‘big’ sprinters in the bunch, I tried to escape at 20 km to go,” explained Lars Boom after the finish. “There was a bit of confusion and nobody knew who would have worked to keep the bunch together until the sprint, so there were some attacks and I attacked also…

 

“Then unfortunately there was not a great collaboration between the attackers, even because with a flat final like this it was so important to save some energy for the sprin. Then we were caught. I helped my team mate Guardini to stay at the front and I gave up in the final chaotic kilometres.

 

Sprinter Andrea Guardini didn’t find the right way to sprint in the last km:

 

“There was a great confusion and probably I didn’t have my best legs to do a great sprint. In the final straight I tried to keep the ‘right wheel’ but it wasn’t enough to be in the top ten,” Guardini said.

 

No luck for Sam Bennett in Brusssels

I was Shane Archbold´s first race after his crash during the Tour de France in July. BORA – ARGON 18 was ready to bring Sam Bennett in a good position for the final sprint.

 

Sam Bennett finished 19th. 

“The race was harder that we thought and saw on the profile today. The team did a good work but it wasn’t enough for a good result in the final. But we are all very happy for Shane. It was his first race after his crash during the Tour de France. He did not finish but he was in a good position in the peloton the whole day. The whole team is happy that he is back,” said sports director Christian Pömer.

 

Fabian Wegmann on the attack in Brussels

Fabian Wegmann placed 20th at the Brussels Cycling Classic (2.HC). The multiple German champion made several moves, but was reeled in by the sprinters’ teams every time.

 

Fabian Wegmann got a gap on the peloton twice, but the sprinters’ teams never let him and the other attackers out of sight. The group with Wegmann was caught with 30 km to the finish in a flat but nevertheless challenging final. Wegmann finished in 20th place, Lennard Kämna also did a good race and took the 29th place.

 

Sports Director Jochen Hahn said after the race: “The riders really threw themselves into it today. Fabian tried to get away in the hills; Thomas Koep was strong too, but had a mechanical in the final. It was a difficult sprint finish, and I’m satisfied with the 20th place. We’ll try again tomorrow in Fourmies.”

 

“It was a rather hard race actually, not just flat and straight,” commented Fabian Wegmann. “It took a while for the break to get away; we didn’t try to get in there, but concentrated on the final. The parcours became more hilly with some 50 km left, that’s when we started to attack and quickly caught the break. I was off the front twice, one time two other riders bridged up to me, but the sprinters’ teams closed everything down. The final was quite hectic with lots of small roads and a few cobblestone sections. Unfortunately Lennard couldn’t get up to me in the sprint. The last kilometre was straight, slightly uphill and into a headwind, if I’d had someone to pull me to the front there, I might have finished further up the standings.”

 

No title defence for Roompot in Brussels

One year after the victory of Dylan Groenewegen, Roompot - Orange Peloton wanted to repeat this feat in Brussels Cycling Classic but the sprinters from the selection of Michel Cornelisse could not interfere in the battle for the podium places.

 

Despite many attempts, including some from Ivar Slik and Brian Van Goethem, the team failed to join the break.

 

"The pace was kept high by the best Belgian teams," said sports director Cornelisse. "In the hill zone, the big guys really went full gas. André Looij and Barry Markus were dropped.”

 

In the last 40 kilometers Van Goethem and De Vries tried to attack but it ended in sprint. With 41st place Michel Kreder could not play a significant role in the final sprint.