Kristoff conquers Tour of Flanders

Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) took a convincing sprint finish to win the 2015 Tour of Flanders ahead of breakaway companion Niki Terpstra (Etixx-QuickStep) while Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing) led home the remnants of the chasers and was forced to settle for third.

Kristoff and Terpstra jumped clear after the ascent of the Kruisberg, with the Dutch rider first to open up a gap on the rest of the race favourites.

Despite never holding more than a thirty second lead and a late counter attack from Van Avermaet and Peter Sagan (Tinkoff-Saxo), the leading duo survived until the finish. Coming into the final kilometre Terpstra sat back and forced Kristoff to the front but the 2014 Milan-San Remo winner held his nerve and comprehensively took the sprint to secure the second Monument of his career.

"I'm really happy to win, it's a really good feeling," Kristoff said. "My family is here today, and it was a big dream and my big goal this season and I managed to do it.

"At the end, I came with Niki, and he didn't really want to work with me, but I understand that. In the end I could still beat him."

Kristoff is the first Norwegian to win the Tour of Flanders but coming into the race he was among the red-hot favourites having enjoyed an incredible start to the season already. His performance matched that of his Katusha team – measured, calculating and almost faultless.

Even when the Norwegian saw several of his teammates involved in crashes the game plan remained the same with the squad wisely intent on keeping their leader out of trouble for as long as possible. Every effort appeared rehearsed and refined and whereas Team Sky looked impressive but ultimately short of numbers when it mattered most, Kristoff rounded out the display with a textbook finishing – latching onto the Terpstra express when most of his rivals looked intent on holding back and then working with the Dutchman. Even Terpstra’s understandable lack of commitment in the finale could not break Kristoff from his stride.

Van Avermaet and Sagan’s late cameos glossed over the larger chase group who fought tooth and nail on the final ascents of the Paterberg and Kwaremont but had little shared agreement or power to bring back the leading duo.

How the race unfolded

After a slightly delayed start due to a farmer’s protest the 199 riders for the Tour of Flanders were able to roll out from the historical market square of Bruges and head south towards Kortrijk and the Flemish Ardennes hills near finish town Oudenaarde.

After 20 kilometres of racing five riders managed to distance the peloton, with Jesse Sergent (Trek Factory Racing), Damien Gaudin (AG2R), Ralf Matzka (Bora), Matthew Brammeier (MTN Qhubeka) and Dylan Groenewegen (Roompot Oranje Peloton).

Clément Venturini (Cofidis) briefly featured in front but dropped back into the peloton. Brammeier won the bonus sprint in Sint-Eloois-Winkel, winning his 73kg weight in the local ‘Steene Molen’ beer.

A counter-attack with Lars Ytting Bak (Lotto-Soudal) and Marco Frapporti (Androni) bridged up to the five leaders, creating a group of seven. The Sky-led peloton allowed the group the distance and they collected a lead of nearly seven minutes when approaching Zwevegem, this year’s ‘village of the Ronde’, after 60 kilometres of racing.

As the peloton started to hit the first climbs the gap was coming back down.

Bradley Wiggins crashed, probably in the first crash of the day, just before the first ascent of the Oude Kwaremont. A few bike switches later he was back in the peloton where his teammates set the pace behind the seven leaders.

There were several counter-attacks during the first of three loops near Oudenaarde. André Greipel (Lotto-Soudal) featured in almost all of them. Nevertheless none of these attacks managed to gain distance on the peloton. Meanwhile, Paolini, Sagan, Degenkolb and Pozzato were confronted with flat tyres but they all kept cool and returned to the front.

On the wider roads towards the cobbles of the Haaghoek a Shimano service car tried to overtake the lead group but while doing so the car sideswiped Jesse Sergent. The incident was similar to the crash that took out Juan Antonio Flecha and Johnny Hoogerland in the 2011 Tour de France.

Sergent, a 26-year-old rider from New-Zealand, was forced to abandon the race, bringing the lead group down to six riders, with about three minutes on the Sky-led peloton.

In Schorisse there was another incident with a neutral car from Shimano. This time they rode into the back of the FDJ team car. As a result the FDJ-car took down their own rider who had been visiting the team car. Two damaged cars, an injured FDJ-rider and a furious Marc Madiot was the outcome of another avoidable incident.

On the tenth climb of the day, the Kaperij, there were a few accelerations. In front Bak and Gaudin distanced their breakaway companions.

André Greipel was again trying to anticipate the moves from the team leaders, without gaining much distance as the pace in the peloton increased when approaching the second ascent of the Oude Kwaremont.

Belgian champion Jens Debusschere (Lotto-Soudal) led the peloton on the climb with the break finally caught at the top of the ascent.

Greipel kept trying to sneak away, this time just before the famous Koppenberg. On the steep cobbled climb several riders were dropped, including Wiggins, while Devolder and Thomas were leading the peloton, bringing Greipel back. Alexey Lutsenko (Astana) attacked after the Koppenberg and created a gap of half a minute. Greipel and Chavanel tried the same but without success.

With 36 kilometres to go the finale started. On the Taaienberg the big guns started firing with a first move from Terpstra. Once over the top Van Avermaet attacked and eventually a large group distanced the peloton.

While riding towards the third and final loop Lutsenko was again on the attack, together with Van Avermaet and Nelson Oliveira (Lampre-Merida). They were caught before hitting the Kruisberg. When entering the final loop only 26 riders were left in front. The biggest absentee was Sep Vanmarcke. While Tersptra and Kristoff attacked the lead group Vanmarcke was spotted trying to bridge up with the main group after the Kruisberg but the Belgian was unable to make contact.

With Terpstra and Kristoff clear the onus was on Giant-Alpecin, Lotto Soudal, Team Sky and BMC to lead the chase and when the gap dropped to around 15 seconds a juncture looked possible.

However when Thomas attacked he found a determined Stybar glued to his wheel and with the final climbs out of the way the rest of the field were racing for third.

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Team Katusha6:26:32
2Niki Terpstra (Ned) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 1 - Cell 2
3Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing Team0:00:07
4Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff-Saxo0:00:16
5Tiesj Benoot (Bel) Lotto Soudal0:00:36
6Lars Boom (Ned) Astana Pro TeamRow 5 - Cell 2
7John Degenkolb (Ger) Team Giant-Alpecin0:00:49
8Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 7 - Cell 2
9Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 8 - Cell 2
10Martin Elmiger (Swi) IAM CyclingRow 9 - Cell 2
11Daniel Oss (Ita) BMC Racing TeamRow 10 - Cell 2
12Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Lampre-MeridaRow 11 - Cell 2
13Stijn Devolder (Bel) Trek Factory RacingRow 12 - Cell 2
14Geraint Thomas (GBr) Team SkyRow 13 - Cell 2
15André Greipel (Ger) Lotto Soudal0:02:28
16Marcus Burghardt (Ger) BMC Racing TeamRow 15 - Cell 2
17Laurens De Vreese (Bel) Astana Pro TeamRow 16 - Cell 2
18Marco Marcato (Ita) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 17 - Cell 2
19Jens Keukeleire (Bel) Orica GreenEdgeRow 18 - Cell 2
20Nelson Santos Simoes Oliveira (Por) Lampre-Merida0:02:34
21Dries Devenyns (Bel) IAM Cycling0:03:02
22Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz) Astana Pro Team0:03:11
23Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJ.fr0:03:23
24Yves Lampaert (Bel) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 23 - Cell 2
25Jens Debusschere (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 24 - Cell 2
26Heinrich Haussler (Aus) IAM CyclingRow 25 - Cell 2
27Bjorn Leukemans (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 26 - Cell 2
28Jean-Pierre Drucker (Lux) BMC Racing TeamRow 27 - Cell 2
29Grégory Rast (Swi) Trek Factory RacingRow 28 - Cell 2
30Yoann Offredo (Fra) FDJ.frRow 29 - Cell 2
31Zico Waeytens (Bel) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 30 - Cell 2
32Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek Factory RacingRow 31 - Cell 2
33Viacheslav Kuznetsov (Rus) Team KatushaRow 32 - Cell 2
34Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 33 - Cell 2
35Oliver Naesen (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 34 - Cell 2
36Borut Bozic (Slo) Astana Pro TeamRow 35 - Cell 2
37Dylan Van Baarle (Ned) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling TeamRow 36 - Cell 2
38Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Astana Pro TeamRow 37 - Cell 2
39Mathew Hayman (Aus) Orica GreenEdgeRow 38 - Cell 2
40Paul Voss (Ger) Bora-Argon 18Row 39 - Cell 2
41Andreas Schillinger (Ger) Bora-Argon 18Row 40 - Cell 2
42Koen De Kort (Ned) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 41 - Cell 2
43Luke Durbridge (Aus) Orica GreenEdgeRow 42 - Cell 2
44Davide Cimolai (Ita) Lampre-MeridaRow 43 - Cell 2
45Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) IAM CyclingRow 44 - Cell 2
46Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Bel) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 45 - Cell 2
47Oscar Gatto (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 46 - Cell 2
48Marco Haller (Aut) Team KatushaRow 47 - Cell 2
49Manuel Quinziato (Ita) BMC Racing TeamRow 48 - Cell 2
50Luke Rowe (GBr) Team SkyRow 49 - Cell 2
51Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 50 - Cell 2
52Luca Paolini (Ita) Team Katusha0:03:29
53Sep Vanmarcke (Bel) Team LottoNL-JumboRow 52 - Cell 2
54Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team0:03:35
55Francisco José Ventoso Alberdi (Spa) Movistar Team0:06:36
56Jack Bauer (NZl) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling TeamRow 55 - Cell 2
57Ian Stannard (GBr) Team SkyRow 56 - Cell 2
58Tyler Farrar (USA) MTN - Qhubeka0:07:08
59Ramon Sinkeldam (Ned) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 58 - Cell 2
60Dmitriy Gruzdev (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRow 59 - Cell 2
61Silvan Dillier (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 60 - Cell 2
62Marcel Sieberg (Ger) Lotto SoudalRow 61 - Cell 2
63Mickael Delage (Fra) FDJ.frRow 62 - Cell 2
64Scott Thwaites (GBr) Bora-Argon 18Row 63 - Cell 2
65Hayden Roulston (NZl) Trek Factory RacingRow 64 - Cell 2
66Wesley Kreder (Ned) Team RoompotRow 65 - Cell 2
67Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) MTN - QhubekaRow 66 - Cell 2
68Marco Bandiera (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 67 - Cell 2
69Tom Van Asbroeck (Bel) Team LottoNL-JumboRow 68 - Cell 2
70Johnny Hoogerland (Ned) Team RoompotRow 69 - Cell 2
71Thomas Leezer (Ned) Team LottoNL-JumboRow 70 - Cell 2
72Maarten Wynants (Bel) Team LottoNL-JumboRow 71 - Cell 2
73Matti Breschel (Den) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 72 - Cell 2
74Giovanni Bernaudeau (Fra) Team Europcar0:07:32
75Jarl Salomein (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise0:09:17
76Mirko Selvaggi (Ita) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 75 - Cell 2
77Alexander Porsev (Rus) Team KatushaRow 76 - Cell 2
78Aleksei Tcatevich (Rus) Team KatushaRow 77 - Cell 2
79Tim Kerkhof (Ned) Team RoompotRow 78 - Cell 2
80Sven Erik Bystrøm (Nor) Team KatushaRow 79 - Cell 2
81Roy Curvers (Ned) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 80 - Cell 2
82Nikias Arndt (Ger) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 81 - Cell 2
83Iljo Keisse (Bel) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 82 - Cell 2
84Jasha Sütterlin (Ger) Movistar TeamRow 83 - Cell 2
85Yohann Gene (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 84 - Cell 2
86Klaas Lodewyck (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 85 - Cell 2
87Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Team SkyRow 86 - Cell 2
88Matteo Trentin (Ita) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 87 - Cell 2
89Sébastien Minard (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 88 - Cell 2
90Florian Senechal (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 89 - Cell 2
91Edward Theuns (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise0:10:27
92Bert De Backer (Bel) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 91 - Cell 2
93Alan Marangoni (Ita) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling TeamRow 92 - Cell 2
94Hugo Houle (Can) AG2R La MondialeRow 93 - Cell 2
95Kristijan Koren (Slo) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling TeamRow 94 - Cell 2
96Christopher Juul Jensen (Den) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 95 - Cell 2
97Nikolas Maes (Bel) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 96 - Cell 2
98Michael Schär (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 97 - Cell 2
99Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Team SkyRow 98 - Cell 2
100Markel Irizar Aranburu (Spa) Trek Factory RacingRow 99 - Cell 2
101Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 100 - Cell 2
102Magnus Cort Nielsen (Den) Orica GreenEdgeRow 101 - Cell 2
103Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) Team LottoNL-JumboRow 102 - Cell 2
104Gijs Van Hoecke (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 103 - Cell 2
105Johan Van Summeren (Bel) AG2R La MondialeRow 104 - Cell 2
106Jelle Wallays (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 105 - Cell 2
107Bert Van Lerberghe (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise0:12:55
108Preben Van Hecke (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 107 - Cell 2
109Stig Broeckx (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 108 - Cell 2
110Tony Hurel (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 109 - Cell 2
111Mitchell Docker (Aus) Orica GreenEdgeRow 110 - Cell 2
112Lasse Norman Hansen (Den) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling TeamRow 111 - Cell 2
113Ruben Zepuntke (Ger) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling TeamRow 112 - Cell 2
114Angelo Tulik (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 113 - Cell 2
115Ruslan Tleubayev (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRow 114 - Cell 2
116Luka Pibernik (Slo) Lampre-MeridaRow 115 - Cell 2
117Leigh Howard (Aus) Orica GreenEdgeRow 116 - Cell 2
118Antoine Duchesne (Can) Team EuropcarRow 117 - Cell 2
119Imanol Erviti Ollo (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 118 - Cell 2
120Sjoerd Van Ginneken (Ned) Team RoompotRow 119 - Cell 2
121Christoph Pfingsten (Ger) Bora-Argon 18Row 120 - Cell 2
122Pavel Brutt (Rus) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 121 - Cell 2
123Damien Gaudin (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 122 - Cell 2
124Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 123 - Cell 2
125Sam Bewley (NZl) Orica GreenEdge0:15:02
126Brian Van Goethem (Ned) Team RoompotRow 125 - Cell 2
127Kristoffer Skjerping (Nor) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling TeamRow 126 - Cell 2
128Louis Verhelst (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 127 - Cell 2
129James Vanlandschoot (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 128 - Cell 2
130Maxat Ayazbayev (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRow 129 - Cell 2
131Berden De Vries (Ned) Team RoompotRow 130 - Cell 2
132William Bonnet (Fra) FDJ.frRow 131 - Cell 2
133Frederik Backaert (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 132 - Cell 2
DNFFrederik Veuchelen (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 133 - Cell 2
DNFDylan Groenewegen (Ned) Team RoompotRow 134 - Cell 2
DNFAndreas Stauff (Ger) MTN - QhubekaRow 135 - Cell 2
DNFMatthew Harley Goss (Aus) MTN - QhubekaRow 136 - Cell 2
DNFJay Robert Thomson (RSA) MTN - QhubekaRow 137 - Cell 2
DNFYaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Trek Factory RacingRow 138 - Cell 2
DNFIvar Slik (Ned) Team RoompotRow 139 - Cell 2
DNFJimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 140 - Cell 2
DNFSébastien Turgot (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 141 - Cell 2
DNFRoy Jans (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 142 - Cell 2
DNFQuentin Jauregui (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 143 - Cell 2
DNFFumiyuki Beppu (Jpn) Trek Factory RacingRow 144 - Cell 2
DNFAlexis Gougeard (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 145 - Cell 2
DNFGediminas Bagdonas (Ltu) AG2R La MondialeRow 146 - Cell 2
DNFSean De Bie (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 147 - Cell 2
DNFVincent Jerome (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 148 - Cell 2
DNFYannick Martinez (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 149 - Cell 2
DNFPieter Vanspeybrouck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 150 - Cell 2
DNFLars Ytting Bak (Den) Lotto SoudalRow 151 - Cell 2
DNFJesse Sergent (NZl) Trek Factory RacingRow 152 - Cell 2
DNFAlbert Timmer (Ned) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 153 - Cell 2
DNFClément Venturini (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 154 - Cell 2
DNFBjorn Thurau (Ger) Bora-Argon 18Row 155 - Cell 2
DNFAdam Blythe (GBr) Orica GreenEdgeRow 156 - Cell 2
DNFRalf Matzka (Ger) Bora-Argon 18Row 157 - Cell 2
DNFFabio Taborre (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 158 - Cell 2
DNFFrantisek Padour (Cze) Androni GiocattoliRow 159 - Cell 2
DNFAlberto Nardin (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 160 - Cell 2
DNFMarco Frapporti (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 161 - Cell 2
DNFTiziano Dall´Antonia (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 162 - Cell 2
DNFShane Archbold (NZl) Bora-Argon 18Row 163 - Cell 2
DNFSimone Antonini (Ita) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 164 - Cell 2
DNFEnrique Sanz (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 165 - Cell 2
DNFNikolay Trusov (Rus) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 166 - Cell 2
DNFJacopo Guarnieri (Ita) Team KatushaRow 167 - Cell 2
DNFMichael Morkov (Den) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 168 - Cell 2
DNFMaciej Bodnar (Pol) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 169 - Cell 2
DNFElia Viviani (Ita) Team SkyRow 170 - Cell 2
DNFSalvatore Puccio (Ita) Team SkyRow 171 - Cell 2
DNFChristian Knees (Ger) Team SkyRow 172 - Cell 2
DNFRick Flens (Ned) Team LottoNL-JumboRow 173 - Cell 2
DNFBram Tankink (Ned) Team LottoNL-JumboRow 174 - Cell 2
DNFFrancesco Chicchi (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 175 - Cell 2
DNFMatthias Brandle (Aut) IAM CyclingRow 176 - Cell 2
DNFYoucef Reguigui (Alg) MTN - QhubekaRow 177 - Cell 2
DNFGerald Ciolek (Ger) MTN - QhubekaRow 178 - Cell 2
DNFMatthieu Ladagnous (Fra) FDJ.frRow 179 - Cell 2
DNFMatt Brammeier (Irl) MTN - QhubekaRow 180 - Cell 2
DNFSébastien Chavanel (Fra) FDJ.frRow 181 - Cell 2
DNFMarc Sarreau (Fra) FDJ.frRow 182 - Cell 2
DNFMichaël Van Staeyen (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 183 - Cell 2
DNFRobert Thomas Wagner (Ger) Team LottoNL-JumboRow 184 - Cell 2
DNFReto Hollenstein (Swi) IAM CyclingRow 185 - Cell 2
DNFJohn Gadret (Fra) Movistar TeamRow 186 - Cell 2
DNFVicente Reynes Mimo (Spa) IAM CyclingRow 187 - Cell 2
DNFDavid Boucher (Bel) FDJ.frRow 188 - Cell 2
DNFAdrien Petit (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 189 - Cell 2
DNFNiccolo Bonifazio (Ita) Lampre-MeridaRow 190 - Cell 2
DNFSacha Modolo (Ita) Lampre-MeridaRow 191 - Cell 2
DNFMaximiliano Ariel Richeze (Arg) Lampre-MeridaRow 192 - Cell 2
DNFGert Joeaar (Est) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 193 - Cell 2
DNFRoberto Ferrari (Ita) Lampre-MeridaRow 194 - Cell 2
DNFJuan Jose Lobato Del Valle (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 195 - Cell 2
DNFDayer Uberney Quintana Rojas (Col) Movistar TeamRow 196 - Cell 2
DNFMichael Schwarzmann (Ger) Bora-Argon 18Row 197 - Cell 2
DNFRoger Kluge (Ger) IAM CyclingRow 198 - Cell 2

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