05Feb2012
On Sunday, Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma - Quick.Step) has won the first stage in the Tour of Qatar.
After a stage over 142,5km between Barzan Towers and Doha Golf Club he outsprinted the bunch and advanced the Brit Adam Blythe (BMC) and the Slovak Peter Sagan (Liquigas).
The victory is Boonen's 19th win in Qatar. The former world champion, who also won a stage in the Tour of San Luis in Argentina, already won the stage race three times. On Monday a team time trial of 11,3 km is scheduled. The Tour ends on Friday.
In the bunch sprint in the capital Doha Boonen easily beat the entire pack. Adam Blythe claimed second, ahead of Peter Sagan, Tyler Farrar and Daniël Oss. Jonas Van Genechten came in 9th. Boonen is the first leader overall.
"A final straight I really like", according to Boonen. "Slightly uphill and a headwind, that's all I need. The journey, sitting in planes, the cold weather in Belgium, it all made me feel rather poor at the start. I therefore started pulling the peloton and produce an echelon, so that I could sweat some more. Still the best way of getting my best legs."
"The boys of the team put in their share of the work", Tom went on. "After Guillaume Van Keirsbulck had been pulling the entire bunch already, Nikolas Maes accelarated at the start of the ultimate kilometer. Gert Steegmans was next and at 200m I jumped myself. I did not see anyone anymore, it was that easy. My 19th victory in Qatar and on Monday we'll aim for stage victory in the team time trial", the team leader of Omega Pharma-Quick.Step promised.
WILFRIED PEETERS SATISFIED
"During the briefing for this stage I asked the riders who was in for a sprint. No one objected Tom would", according to Wilfried Peeters, team leader of Omega Pharma-Quick.Step in the Tour of Qatar. "The explosive sprinter he is Chicchi is better suited for the ultimate stage in Qatar and Gert Steegmans will have his shot later on all the same. Tom lived up to his responsibilities."
"I have to add though that the way he was lead out pleased me equally. This is the train I wanted to see. Last year we were pushed aside all too often and that had to change, otherwise a sprinter can hardly stand his chance. And when success is not around, people moan. We wanted to avoid that and that is why we altered the core of this team", Peeters said.
"The core we now have, should be used. This happened in the first stage of Qatar, and in the long run that is more important than the name of the rider winning", the directeur-sportif concluded.
The victory is Boonen's 19th win in Qatar. The former world champion, who also won a stage in the Tour of San Luis in Argentina, already won the stage race three times. On Monday a team time trial of 11,3 km is scheduled. The Tour ends on Friday.
In the bunch sprint in the capital Doha Boonen easily beat the entire pack. Adam Blythe claimed second, ahead of Peter Sagan, Tyler Farrar and Daniël Oss. Jonas Van Genechten came in 9th. Boonen is the first leader overall.
"A final straight I really like", according to Boonen. "Slightly uphill and a headwind, that's all I need. The journey, sitting in planes, the cold weather in Belgium, it all made me feel rather poor at the start. I therefore started pulling the peloton and produce an echelon, so that I could sweat some more. Still the best way of getting my best legs."
"The boys of the team put in their share of the work", Tom went on. "After Guillaume Van Keirsbulck had been pulling the entire bunch already, Nikolas Maes accelarated at the start of the ultimate kilometer. Gert Steegmans was next and at 200m I jumped myself. I did not see anyone anymore, it was that easy. My 19th victory in Qatar and on Monday we'll aim for stage victory in the team time trial", the team leader of Omega Pharma-Quick.Step promised.
WILFRIED PEETERS SATISFIED
"During the briefing for this stage I asked the riders who was in for a sprint. No one objected Tom would", according to Wilfried Peeters, team leader of Omega Pharma-Quick.Step in the Tour of Qatar. "The explosive sprinter he is Chicchi is better suited for the ultimate stage in Qatar and Gert Steegmans will have his shot later on all the same. Tom lived up to his responsibilities."
"I have to add though that the way he was lead out pleased me equally. This is the train I wanted to see. Last year we were pushed aside all too often and that had to change, otherwise a sprinter can hardly stand his chance. And when success is not around, people moan. We wanted to avoid that and that is why we altered the core of this team", Peeters said.
"The core we now have, should be used. This happened in the first stage of Qatar, and in the long run that is more important than the name of the rider winning", the directeur-sportif concluded.
30Jan2012
In Argentina Tom has won the final stage of the Tour of San Luis. The final overall was won by Tom's team mate Levi Leipheimer.
After 167,1 kilometer in and around San Luis Tom outsprinted the Italian Andrea Guardini and the Argentinian Maximiliano Richeze. Leipheimer's overall jersey was no longer under threat.
In the final overall the 38-year old American advanced the Spaniard Alberto Contador by 46 second and the Argentinian Daniel Diaz by 1:29.
With Leipheimer's overall victory, his stage victory in the time trial, the two stage victories of the Italian Francesco Chicchi and the ultimate stage of Tom the trip to Argentina has proven very successful for the new Omega Pharma-Quick Step team.
Result stage 7:
1. Tom Boonen (BEL/Omega Pharma-QuickStep) - 3:54:37
2. Andrea Guardini (ITA/Farnese Vini) - s.t
Final overall:
1. Levi Leipheimer (USA/Omega Pharma-QuickStep) - 26:32:55
2. Alberto Contador (ESP/Saxo Bank) at 46"
3. Daniel Díaz (ARG/San Luis Somos Todos) at 1'31"
In the final overall the 38-year old American advanced the Spaniard Alberto Contador by 46 second and the Argentinian Daniel Diaz by 1:29.
With Leipheimer's overall victory, his stage victory in the time trial, the two stage victories of the Italian Francesco Chicchi and the ultimate stage of Tom the trip to Argentina has proven very successful for the new Omega Pharma-Quick Step team.
Result stage 7:
1. Tom Boonen (BEL/Omega Pharma-QuickStep) - 3:54:37
2. Andrea Guardini (ITA/Farnese Vini) - s.t
Final overall:
1. Levi Leipheimer (USA/Omega Pharma-QuickStep) - 26:32:55
2. Alberto Contador (ESP/Saxo Bank) at 46"
3. Daniel Díaz (ARG/San Luis Somos Todos) at 1'31"
25Jan2012
Team Omega Pharma - Quick Step powers on. In the second stage of the Tour of San Luis, Francesco Chicchi claimed his second win, ahead of his lead out Tom Boonen.
Francesco Chicchi, who already claimed the first stage, was ahead of his team mate Tom Boonen in a bunch sprint slightly uphill. A photo finish was needed to separate the winner from the runner up, like the day before with Juan José Haedo.
The American rider from team UnitedHealthCare Jake Keough claimed third, before more renowned fast men such as Francisco Ventoso (Movistar) and Jimmy Casper (AG2R-La Mondiale). Chicchi extends his lead in the overall, thanks to the bonus seconds, ahead of Juan Jose Haedo. Keough is third there too.
"It was the team's objective to have Tom win the stage", Levi Leipheimer tweeted. "But he and Francesco started celebrating the stage victory already before the finish line!"
The American rider from team UnitedHealthCare Jake Keough claimed third, before more renowned fast men such as Francisco Ventoso (Movistar) and Jimmy Casper (AG2R-La Mondiale). Chicchi extends his lead in the overall, thanks to the bonus seconds, ahead of Juan Jose Haedo. Keough is third there too.
"It was the team's objective to have Tom win the stage", Levi Leipheimer tweeted. "But he and Francesco started celebrating the stage victory already before the finish line!"
22Jan2012
Next week the Tour of San Luis is held in Argentina. Omega Pharma-Quick.Step heads for the race in Latin America with six riders, including Tom Boonen.
The former world champion joins the team with five other team members for his first race in 2012 : the French rider Sylvain Chavanel, the Italian Francesco Chicchi, the German Bert Grabsch, the American Levi Leipheimer and the Czech Frantisek Rabon.
The team arrived in Argentina on Friday night. Levi Leipheimer joined the European rider from the US.
"It was a flawless long haul", directeur-sportif Davide Bramati said. "We've come with a team that will stand its chance on virtually every terrain. For the sprints we have both Boonen and Chicchi, while Levi Leipheimer will take on the tougher races. The American should do well in the time trial too, like Bert Grabsch. The field of contenders is strong, but we aim for a stage victory and a nice final overall."
The Tour of San Luis starts on Monday and lasts for seven days.
Riders:
Tom Boonen (BEL) Sylvain Chavanel (FRE) Francesco Chicchi (ITA) Bert Grabsch (GER) Levi Leipheimer (USA) Frantisek Rabon (CZE)
Directeur-sportf:
Davide Bramati (ITA)
Website: www.tourdesanluis.com
Stages:
23.01.12 - Stage 1: San Luis - Villa Mercedes 189.3 km
24.01.12 - Stage 2: Fraga - Juana Koslay 145.3 km
25.01.12 - Stage 3: Estancia Grande - Mirador del Potrero 168.2 km
26.01.12 - Stage 4: San Luis - San Luis 19.5 km (ITT)
27.01.12 - Stage 5: La Toma - Merlo (Mirador del Sol) 160.6 km
28.01.12 - Stage 6: Luján - Quines 201.0 km
29.01.12 - Stage 7: San Luis - San Luis 167.1 km
The team arrived in Argentina on Friday night. Levi Leipheimer joined the European rider from the US.
"It was a flawless long haul", directeur-sportif Davide Bramati said. "We've come with a team that will stand its chance on virtually every terrain. For the sprints we have both Boonen and Chicchi, while Levi Leipheimer will take on the tougher races. The American should do well in the time trial too, like Bert Grabsch. The field of contenders is strong, but we aim for a stage victory and a nice final overall."
The Tour of San Luis starts on Monday and lasts for seven days.
Riders:
Tom Boonen (BEL) Sylvain Chavanel (FRE) Francesco Chicchi (ITA) Bert Grabsch (GER) Levi Leipheimer (USA) Frantisek Rabon (CZE)
Directeur-sportf:
Davide Bramati (ITA)
Website: www.tourdesanluis.com
Stages:
23.01.12 - Stage 1: San Luis - Villa Mercedes 189.3 km
24.01.12 - Stage 2: Fraga - Juana Koslay 145.3 km
25.01.12 - Stage 3: Estancia Grande - Mirador del Potrero 168.2 km
26.01.12 - Stage 4: San Luis - San Luis 19.5 km (ITT)
27.01.12 - Stage 5: La Toma - Merlo (Mirador del Sol) 160.6 km
28.01.12 - Stage 6: Luján - Quines 201.0 km
29.01.12 - Stage 7: San Luis - San Luis 167.1 km
22Jun2011
Tom has renewed his contract with Quick Step Cycling Team. He signed up for an additional 2 years (2012 and 2013), with an option to prolong his contract until 2014.
More later...
12Mai2011
On Monday destiny hit hard. In the third stage of the Giro d'Italia Wouter Weylandt crashed. The 26-year old pro rider with the wonderful smile did not survive. Because of this tragic death the event "Zet 'm op Tom" on Studio Brussels has been cancelled.
Our sympathy goes out to the girlfriend of Wouter, his relatives and friends. In the world of cycling number 108 will always belong to WW Special and he will always be part of the peloton, in spirit. Cyclists don't die, they only disappear from view...
All the best, Wouter, take care!
All the best, Wouter, take care!
Cyclists don't die,
they only disappear from view
once they have passed the last finish line
and leave the speed of life
behind with stiff muscles.
Racing they continue,
even though their hearts and wheels halt,
they continue in thousands of heads
powering on and never giving up,
their sweat a shiny surface
of the asphal.
Know that
when the earth covers them
unwillingly,
their name will echo
forever
in the mountains.
they only disappear from view
once they have passed the last finish line
and leave the speed of life
behind with stiff muscles.
Racing they continue,
even though their hearts and wheels halt,
they continue in thousands of heads
powering on and never giving up,
their sweat a shiny surface
of the asphal.
Know that
when the earth covers them
unwillingly,
their name will echo
forever
in the mountains.
