Goss sprints to win in Brussels

Despite the absence of five-time winner Robbie McEwen, the string of Australian wins in Paris-Brussels continued thanks to the fast legs from Matthew Goss (Team Saxo Bank). The 22-year-old from Tasmania easily outsprinted compatriot Allan Davis (Quick Step) and Kristof Goddaert (Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator) in the classic bunch sprint near the Koning Boudewijn stadium to grab his third win of the season. It was his first-ever victory in one-day semi-classic.

"It's a hard sprint as it's all slightly uphill," said Goss. "I was lucky to be in a good position behind the guys. It's a hard sprint if you have to go from 200 metres out, so I was biding my time and went with about 150-100 metres to go," Goss said to Sporza.

After a third place in Gent-Wevelgem this year and another third place in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne in 2008, it was clear that the former team pursuit champion would grab a win in a big one-day race sooner rather than later. Maybe it was coincidance, but Goss collected his first big win in a race that has been dominated by compatriot Robbie McEwen in previous years.

"Seems this [race] is favored for Australians. Alan is second as well, so first and second are Aussies. Robbie has five wins here so I've got a while to catch him," the short-trimmed Australian Goss said.

With a strong northeast headwind blowing, it seemed unavoidable that the 89th edition of Paris-Brussels would end in a bunch sprint. For the 15th time, the race started in Soissons, France, and one kilometre after the start, Floris Goesinnen attacked the peloton. Even with the unfavorable winds and 218 kilometres to go, the Dutch rider from the Skil-Shimano team was joined by compatriots Niki Terpstra (Milram), Michiel Elijzen (Silence Lotto), Wout Poels (Vacansoleil), and Ukranian Vitaliy Kondrut (ISD-Neri).

The peloton didn't fancy a fast race and allowed the five leaders to gain more than 15 minutes. When approaching Belgium, the sprinters' teams made sure the leaders wouldn't stand a chance in the finale and once across the border, the leaders were all caught.

Goesinnen was the last man standing. He wasn't caught until 28 kilometres to go, near the climb of the Bruineput, which also features in the Brabantse Pijl in April.

During a hard-fought, nervous finale, atacks were everywhere, but none had much success. A group of nine riders, including big guns like Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step), Juan Antonio Flecha (Rabobank), Patrick Sinkewitz (PSK Whirlpool) and Pablo Lastras (Caisse d'Epargne) build up a lead of 20 seconds. The Liquigas team controlled this breakaway attempt, and after the Keperenberg, with 7 kilometres to go, they were all back in the main peloton.

Several attempts to sneak away followed, but the headwinds made it impossible to hold out against the peloton, then controlled by Katusha and Bouygues Telecom. Romain Feillu (Agritubel) tried to suprise the sprinters by starting his sprint early, but the headwind and the uphill turned his attack into a perfect lead-out for the Quick Step team.

Steven De Jongh set-up Alan Davis on the left; however, the latter couldn't respond to the acceleration from Goss, who passed him easily on the right and won with at least a bike length over Davis in second.

The winner Goss explained that the trick was to wait long enough on the Houba de Strooperlaan, where Paris-Brussels finished for the fifth year in a row. "It's difficult in a way because it is slightly uphill and that always makes it harder to judge. In terms of the finish, it's like a straight run-in so it was pretty easy and not very dangerous, so that is always good. I haven't actually seen it, but I knew I was a little bit in front, so it was a matter of crossing my wheel over the line first," Goss said.

Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Matthew Harley Goss (Aus) Team Saxo Bank5:48:35
2Allan Davis (Aus) Quick StepRow 1 - Cell 2
3Kristof Goddaert (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 2 - Cell 2
4Kenny De Haes (Bel) Silence - LottoRow 3 - Cell 2
5Tom Veelers (Ned) Skil-ShimanoRow 4 - Cell 2
6Frédéric Amorison (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - ColnagoRow 5 - Cell 2
7Nico Sijmens (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit en LigneRow 6 - Cell 2
8Romain Feillu (Fra) AgritubelRow 7 - Cell 2
9Aart Vierhouten (Ned) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling TeamRow 8 - Cell 2
10Alexei Markov (Rus) Team KatushaRow 9 - Cell 2
11Danilo Hondo (Ger) PSK Whirlpool - AuthorRow 10 - Cell 2
12Kevin Ista (Bel) AgritubelRow 11 - Cell 2
13Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) Silence - LottoRow 12 - Cell 2
14Manuel Belletti (Ita) Serramenti Pvc Diquigiovanni-Androni GiocattoliRow 13 - Cell 2
15Romain Fondard (Fra) Lotto - BodysolRow 14 - Cell 2
16Igor Abakoumov (Bel) ISDRow 15 - Cell 2
17Guillaume Blot (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en LigneRow 16 - Cell 2
18Matthias Friedemann (Ger) PSK Whirlpool - AuthorRow 17 - Cell 2
19Jacopo Guarnieri (Ita) LiquigasRow 18 - Cell 2
20Mathew Hayman (Aus) RabobankRow 19 - Cell 2
21Nikolay Trusov (Rus) Team KatushaRow 20 - Cell 2
22Maxim De Busschere (Bel) Team KatushaRow 21 - Cell 2
23Peter Wrolich (Aut) Team MilramRow 22 - Cell 2
24Roy Curvers (Ned) Skil-ShimanoRow 23 - Cell 2
25Lodewyck Klaas (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 24 - Cell 2
26Kenny Terweduwe (Bel) Jong Vlaanderen - BauknechtRow 25 - Cell 2
27Sven Renders (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 26 - Cell 2
28Nikolas Maes (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 27 - Cell 2
29Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) RabobankRow 28 - Cell 2
30Ruggero Marzoli (Ita) Andalucia CajasurRow 29 - Cell 2
31Rémi Cusin (Fra) AgritubelRow 30 - Cell 2
32Bert De Backer (Bel) Skil-ShimanoRow 31 - Cell 2
33Sven Vandousselacre (Bel) Jong Vlaanderen - BauknechtRow 32 - Cell 2
34Edwig Cammaerts (Bel) Lotto - BodysolRow 33 - Cell 2
35Mathieu Drujon (Fra) Caisse d'EpargneRow 34 - Cell 2
36Luca Paolini (Ita) Andalucia CajasurRow 35 - Cell 2
37Jérémy Burton (Bel) Lotto - BodysolRow 36 - Cell 2
38Gerben Löwik (Ned) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling TeamRow 37 - Cell 2
39Steven Caethoven (Bel) AgritubelRow 38 - Cell 2
40Maciej Paterski (Pol) LiquigasRow 39 - Cell 2
41Francesco Ginanni (Ita) Serramenti Pvc Diquigiovanni-Androni GiocattoliRow 40 - Cell 2
42Fabio Polazzi (Bel) Lotto - BodysolRow 41 - Cell 2
43David Boucher (Fra) Landbouwkrediet - ColnagoRow 42 - Cell 2
44Hervé Duclos-Lassalle (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en LigneRow 43 - Cell 2
45Gorazd Stangelj (Slo) LiquigasRow 44 - Cell 2
46Arnaud Labbe (Fra) BBox Bouygues TelecomRow 45 - Cell 2
47Saïd Haddou (Fra) BBox Bouygues TelecomRow 46 - Cell 2
48Alexandre Pichot (Fra) BBox Bouygues TelecomRow 47 - Cell 2
49Steven De Jongh (Ned) Quick StepRow 48 - Cell 2
50Mauricio Alberto Ardila Cano (Col) RabobankRow 49 - Cell 2
51Grégory Joseph (Bel) Jong Vlaanderen - BauknechtRow 50 - Cell 2
52Nikita Eskov (Rus) Team KatushaRow 51 - Cell 2
53Yukiya Arashiro (Jpn) BBox Bouygues TelecomRow 52 - Cell 2
54Kevin Neirynck (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - ColnagoRow 53 - Cell 2
55Josep Jufre Pou (Spa) Fuji-ServettoRow 54 - Cell 2
56Cyril Gautier (Fra) BBox Bouygues TelecomRow 55 - Cell 2
57Dirk Bellemakers (Ned) Landbouwkrediet - ColnagoRow 56 - Cell 2
58Alexandre Blain (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en LigneRow 57 - Cell 2
59Rui Alberto Faria Da Costa (Por) Caisse d'EpargneRow 58 - Cell 2
60Staf Scheirlinckx (Bel) Silence - LottoRow 59 - Cell 2
61Damien Timmermans (Bel) Lotto - BodysolRow 60 - Cell 2
62Joeri Calleeuw (Bel) Jong Vlaanderen - BauknechtRow 61 - Cell 2
63Fabrice Piemontesi (Ita) Fuji-ServettoRow 62 - Cell 2
64Andriy Grivko (Ukr) ISDRow 63 - Cell 2
65Frank Hoj (Den) Team Saxo BankRow 64 - Cell 2
66Thierry Hupond (Fra) Skil-ShimanoRow 65 - Cell 2
67Frantisek Kloucek (Cze) PSK Whirlpool - AuthorRow 66 - Cell 2
68Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) RabobankRow 67 - Cell 2
69Koen De Kort (Ned) Skil-ShimanoRow 68 - Cell 2
70Alberto Losada Alguacil (Spa) Caisse d'EpargneRow 69 - Cell 2
71Wim De Vocht (Bel) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling TeamRow 70 - Cell 2
72Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) RabobankRow 71 - Cell 2
73Geert Steurs (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 72 - Cell 2
74Johan Coenen (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 73 - Cell 2
75Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel) Team KatushaRow 74 - Cell 2
76Laszlo Bodrogi (Fra) Team KatushaRow 75 - Cell 2
77Alex Rasmussen (Den) Team Saxo BankRow 76 - Cell 2
78Nick Nuyens (Bel) RabobankRow 77 - Cell 2
79Thomas Bertolini (Ita) Serramenti Pvc Diquigiovanni-Androni GiocattoliRow 78 - Cell 2
80Frederik Veuchelen (Bel) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling TeamRow 79 - Cell 2
81Luca Mazzanti (Ita) Team KatushaRow 80 - Cell 2
82André Steensen (Den) Team Saxo BankRow 81 - Cell 2
83Wouter Mol (Ned) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling TeamRow 82 - Cell 2
84Wilfried Cretskens (Bel) Silence - LottoRow 83 - Cell 2
85Alessandro Proni (Ita) ISDRow 84 - Cell 2
86Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Quick StepRow 85 - Cell 2
87José Ivan Gutierrez Palacios (Spa) Caisse d'EpargneRow 86 - Cell 2
88Pablo Lastras Garcia (Spa) Caisse d'EpargneRow 87 - Cell 2
89Bert De Waele (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - ColnagoRow 88 - Cell 2
90Angel Madrazo Ruiz (Spa) Caisse d'EpargneRow 89 - Cell 2
91Frederik Willems (Bel) LiquigasRow 90 - Cell 2
92Bert Scheirlinckx (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - ColnagoRow 91 - Cell 2
93Koen Barbe (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - ColnagoRow 92 - Cell 2
94Alessandro Bertolini (Ita) Serramenti Pvc Diquigiovanni-Androni GiocattoliRow 93 - Cell 2
95Domenik Klemme (Ger) Team Saxo BankRow 94 - Cell 2
96Anders Lund (Den) Team Saxo BankRow 95 - Cell 2
97Peter Velits (Svk) Team MilramRow 96 - Cell 2
98Roy Sentjens (Bel) Silence - LottoRow 97 - Cell 2
99Kasper Klostergaard Larsen (Den) Team Saxo BankRow 98 - Cell 2
100Patrik Sinkewitz (Ger) PSK Whirlpool - Author0:00:30
101Andrey Amador Bikkazakova (CRc) Caisse d'EpargneRow 100 - Cell 2
102Servais Knaven (Ned) Team MilramRow 101 - Cell 2
103Ruslan Pidgornyy (Ukr) ISDRow 102 - Cell 2
104Aleksandr Kuschynski (Blr) LiquigasRow 103 - Cell 2
105Francesco Failli (Ita) Andalucia CajasurRow 104 - Cell 2
106Andrea Masciarelli (Ita) Andalucia CajasurRow 105 - Cell 2
107Leopold Konig (Cze) PSK Whirlpool - AuthorRow 106 - Cell 2
108Tom Van Den Haute (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - ColnagoRow 107 - Cell 2
109Dries Devenyns (Bel) Quick StepRow 108 - Cell 2
110Martin Mares (Cze) PSK Whirlpool - AuthorRow 109 - Cell 2
111Rubens Bertogliati (Swi) Serramenti Pvc Diquigiovanni-Androni GiocattoliRow 110 - Cell 2
112Sébastien Minard (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en LigneRow 111 - Cell 2
113Maarten Neyens (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 112 - Cell 2
114Luca Solari (Ita) Serramenti Pvc Diquigiovanni-Androni GiocattoliRow 113 - Cell 2
115Martin Hebik (Cze) PSK Whirlpool - Author0:00:37
116Dario David Cioni (Ita) ISDRow 115 - Cell 2
117Floris Goesinnen (Ned) Skil-ShimanoRow 116 - Cell 2
118Romain Villa (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en LigneRow 117 - Cell 2
119Petr Bencik (Cze) PSK Whirlpool - AuthorRow 118 - Cell 2
120Angel Gomez Gomez (Spa) Fuji-ServettoRow 119 - Cell 2
121Giovanni Visconti (Ita) ISDRow 120 - Cell 2
122Andrea Tonti (Ita) Fuji-ServettoRow 121 - Cell 2
123Vladimir Miholjevic (Cro) LiquigasRow 122 - Cell 2
124Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Silence - LottoRow 123 - Cell 2
125Christophe Kern (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en LigneRow 124 - Cell 2
126Ermanno Capelli (Ita) Fuji-ServettoRow 125 - Cell 2
127Jose Alberto Benitez Roman (Spa) Fuji-ServettoRow 126 - Cell 2
128Jan Bakelandts (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 127 - Cell 2
129Murilo Antonio Fischer (Bra) LiquigasRow 128 - Cell 2
130Markus Eichler (Ger) Team MilramRow 129 - Cell 2
131Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Quick StepRow 130 - Cell 2
132Michele Scarponi (Ita) Serramenti Pvc Diquigiovanni-Androni GiocattoliRow 131 - Cell 2
133Thomas Voeckler (Fra) BBox Bouygues TelecomRow 132 - Cell 2
134Massimo Codol (Ita) Andalucia CajasurRow 133 - Cell 2
135Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Andalucia CajasurRow 134 - Cell 2
136Diego Milan Jimenez (Spa) Andalucia CajasurRow 135 - Cell 2
137Artur Gajek (Ger) Team MilramRow 136 - Cell 2
138Luca Solari (Ita) Serramenti Pvc Diquigiovanni-Androni GiocattoliRow 137 - Cell 2
139Dario Andriotto (Ita) Andalucia Cajasur0:01:12
140Paolo Bailetti (Ita) Fuji-ServettoRow 139 - Cell 2
141Luca Celli (Ita) Serramenti Pvc Diquigiovanni-Androni GiocattoliRow 140 - Cell 2
142Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) AgritubelRow 141 - Cell 2
143Mathieu Perget (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne0:01:51
144Steven De Neef (Bel) Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht0:02:03
145Francesco Reda (Ita) Quick StepRow 144 - Cell 2
146Rudy Rouet (Bel) Lotto - Bodysol0:02:24
147Oleksandr Kvachuk (Ukr) ISD0:03:55
148Sebastian Lang (Ger) Silence - LottoRow 147 - Cell 2
149Perrig Quemeneur (Fra) BBox Bouygues TelecomRow 148 - Cell 2
150Steve Schets (Bel) Jong Vlaanderen - BauknechtRow 149 - Cell 2
151Simon Geschke (Ger) Skil-ShimanoRow 150 - Cell 2
152Jost Van Leijen (Ned) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling TeamRow 151 - Cell 2
153Vitaliy Kondrut (Ukr) ISDRow 152 - Cell 2
154Niki Terpstra (Ned) Team MilramRow 153 - Cell 2
155Anthony Ravard (Fra) AgritubelRow 154 - Cell 2
156François Roossens (Bel) Lotto - Bodysol0:15:22
157Boris Dron (Bel) Lotto - BodysolRow 156 - Cell 2
158Jonathan Bellis (GBr) Team Saxo BankRow 157 - Cell 2
159Bobbie Traksel (Ned) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling TeamRow 158 - Cell 2
160Sébastien Rosseler (Bel) Quick StepRow 159 - Cell 2
161Wouter Poels (Ned) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling TeamRow 160 - Cell 2
162Tristan Valentin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en LigneRow 161 - Cell 2
163Ivan Santaromita (Ita) LiquigasRow 162 - Cell 2

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