89th Ronde van Vlaanderen - PT

Belgium, April 3, 2005

Photography

Sunday, April 3 - Race day

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us

The crowds were thick at the start in the old town of Brugge.
The group sets out for the long day ahead.
Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) shows some tan lines from perhaps some secret training.
Magnus Backstedt (Liquigas-Bianchi) leads the break heading onto the Boigneberg.
Leon van Bon (Davitamon-Lotto) does some work trying to bring the front group back.
Marc Lotz (Quick.Step) worked hard today to set up teammate Tom Boonen.
Peter Wrolich (Gerolsteiner) puts the pressure on to catch the lead group.
Roger Hammond (Discovery) couldn't quite get going today.
Lars Michaelsen (CSC) catches back up after having a mechanical on an earlier climb.
After eight climbs the field was split into smaller groups.
Peter Van Petegem (Davitamon-Lotto) attacked several times for the win.
George Hincapie (Discovery Channel) managed a 7th place for his efforts today.
Erik Dekker (Rabobank) leads a chase group several minutes back on the Boonen/Van Petegem group.
Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) finishes off the day 28th after having done a lot of work.

Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti

There were many people at the start in Brugge
Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) at the start
Quick.Step was the team to beat today
The peloton on the Molenberg
The peloton on the Molenberg
The race is over for these two
Andrea Tafi (Saunier Duval) on the Paterberg
Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) next to Hushovd on the Kwaremont
Where's everybody gone?
Slava Ekimov leads Lance and George
Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) and teammate George Hincapie
Boonen and Van Petegem lead the break on the Muur
Van Petegem leads Boonen on the Muur
Van Petegem leads Klier and Boonen
Andreas Klier (T-Mobile) a little way off Boonen and PVP on the Muur
Alessandro Ballan (Lampre) digs deep
Klier and Ballan at the top of the Muur
Roberto Petito (Fassa Bortolo) on the Muur
George Hincapie (Discovery Channel) struggles on the Muur
Lance on the Muur
Thomas Vaitkus (Ag2r) on the Muur
Marc Lotz (Quick.Step) looks for an easier way
Serious pain
Mathew Hayman (Rabobank) on the Muur
The crowd on the Muur
Tom Boonen (Quick.Step) steps on the gas on the Bosberg, causing pain
Tom Boonen (Quick.Step) gives them the look on the Bosberg
Roberto Petito (Fassa Bortolo) struggles to hold them on the Bosberg
Erik Dekker (Rabobank) did not have a great day
Armstrong on the Bosberg
Peter van Petegem (Davitamon-Lotto) looking great
Erik Zabel (T-Mobile) had a great ride for fourth
Tom Boonen (Quick.Step) wins the Ronde Van Vlaanderen
Yes!! Boonen celebrates his win
Peter van Petegem (Davitamon-Lotto) wins the sprint for third
Tom Boonen (Quick.Step) after the finish
Tom Boonen (Quick.Step) is congratulated by his girlfriend Lorre
Alessandro Ballan (Lampre) interviewed afterwards
Tom Boonen (Quick.Step) is the man today
The podium (L to R): Andreas Klier (2nd), Tom Boonen (1st) and Peter Van Petegem (3rd)
Tom Boonen (Quick.Step) kisses the RVV trophy
Tom Boonen (Quick.Step) lifts the trophy

Images by Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net

Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) had a good ride in Flanders
Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) suffers on the Koppenberg
Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) on the Bosberg, work done
Tom Boonen (Quick.Step) puts the boot into Klier on the Muur
Tom Boonen (Quick.Step) solo, heading for the win
The podium (L to R): Andreas Klier (2nd), Tom Boonen (1st) and Peter Van Petegem (3rd)

Images by Jeff Jones/Cyclingnews.com

Lots of folk came to watch the start
The scene in Brugge
The crowd at the start in Brugge
Tom Boonen (Quick.Step) is ready
Leif Hoste and George Hincapie with presenter Michel Wuyts at the start
Peter van Petegem (Davitamon-Lotto) with presenter Michel Wuyts at the start
Erik Dekker (Rabobank) eats a taartje before the sign on
Dekker spotted this girl in the crowd
Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) is a wanted man
Erik Dekker (Rabobank) lines up for the start
Erik Dekker (Rabobank) catches up on the news, 1 minute before start time

Images by Luc Claessen/www.actiefotos.com

Alessandro Ballan (Lampre)
Andreas Klier (T-Mobile) is ready
Laszlo Bodrogi (Credit Agricole)
Hayden Roulston (Discovery Channel)
Joerg Ludewig (Domina Vacanze)
Rafael Nuritdinov (Domina Vacanze)
Fabian Cancellara (Fassa Bortolo)
Fabio Baldato (Fassa Bortolo) with hair akimbo
Roberto Petito (Fassa Bortolo) had a great day
George Hincapie (Discovery Channel) with the race face on
George Hincapie (Discovery Channel) happy at the start
Gorik Gardeyn (Mr Bookmaker) at the start
Jakob Piil (CSC) looks a little tired
James Vanlandschoot (Landbouwkrediet-Colnago) a little nervous
Johan Verstrepen (Landbouwkrediet) wonders what's in store
Juan Antonio Flecha (Fassa Bortolo) ready to go
Kevin Hulsmans (Quick.Step) is a valuable man for Boonen
Lance Armstrong (Discovery Channel) tries to get through
Leif Hoste (Discovery) rides to the start
Ludo!!!!!
Magnus Backstedt (Liquigas) ready for a big one
Mathew Hayman (Rabobank) looking focused
Max van Heeswijk (Discovery) is back in action
Mirko Celestino (Domina Vacanze) bright eyed, as usual
Nick Nuyens (Quick.Step) is cheery
Nico Mattan (Davitamon-Lotto) at the start
Slava Ekimov ready for a big day at the wheel
Steffen Wesemann (T-Mobile) interviewed
Steffen Wesemann (T-Mobile) looking happy
Stijn Devolder (Discovery) looking upbeat
Old warriors Andrea Tafi and Peter Van Petegem
Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues) was happy at the start
Thor Hushovd (Credit Agricole) smiles at the start
Marcus Burghardt (T-Mobile) at the start
Tom Boonen (Quick.Step) has the full attention of the media
Tom Boonen (Quick.Step) signs autographs
Peter van Petegem (Davitamon-Lotto) signs autographs
2004 Ronde winner Steffen Wesemann (T-Mobile) talks to Jean-Marie Pfaff and Michel Wuyts
Young and old fans at the Ronde
Tom Boonen (Quick.Step) rolls out for the start
The passage through Gistel
Saunier Duval driving it through Gistel
The peloton on some of that unphotogenic tarmac stuff
A Saunier Duval mechanic works on a riders' bike after a crash. Hope that leg got some attention too!
A Cofidis rider gives chase.
Tom Boonen as seen by a local cartoonist!
Alessandro Ballan (Lampre) animated the closing stages of the race
Sebastian Lang (Gerolsteiner) on the Eine cobbles
Antonio Cruz (Discovery) rides the Eine cobbles
Rolf Aldag (T-Mobile) on the Eine pave
More Eine action
More Eine action
T-Mobile to the front at Eine
Steffen Wesemann (T-Mobile) at Eine
Daniel Becke (Illes Balears)
Bert Grabsch (Phonak)
Crossing the Eine pave
David Herrero Llorente (Euskaltel-Euskadi) at Eine
The cobbles at Mater await the riders
Jan Boven (Rabobank) at Mater
Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom) on the Mater cobbles
The peloton in hot pursuit
The lead group at Mater
Backstedt leads on the Mater cobbles
Concentrating on keeping rubber side down
Wim de Vocht (Davitamon-Lotto) takes the gutter option on the Koppenberg
The leaders climb the Kopppenberg
Laurent Brochard (Bouygues Telecom) looking strong on the koppenberg
Lance Armstrong (Discovery) on the Koppenberg
Lance Armstrong (Discovery) on the Koppenberg
Mark Scanlon (Ag2R Prevoyance) on the Koppenberg
Thomas Ziegler (Gerolsteiner) climbs the Koppenberg
Photographer dodging on Koppenberg
David Boucher (Mrbookmaker.Com-Sports Tech) on the Koppenberg
Magnus Backstedt (Liquigas) leads Carlos Barredo Llamazales (Liberty Seguros) on the Koppenberg
Spectators cheer the riders up the Bosberg
Battling up the Bosberg
Leif Hoste (Discovery) toils up the Bosberg
Lance Armstrong (Discovery) climbs the Bosberg
Lance Armstrong (Discovery) climbs the Bosberg

Images by Matt Conn

Magnus Backstedt (Liquigas) leads the break across he stones at Mater
Quickstep and Dicovery Channel take things in hand after the top of the Oude Kwaremont
Cornering at the bottom of Taaineberg (km 190)
Nicola Loda (Bianchi) leads a small chase group at the bottom of the Taaienberg.
Discovery Channel helpers take to the fields at the top of Foreest (km 206)
Klier (T-Mobile), Armstrong (Discovery) and Van Bon (Lotto) on the way to the Steenberg (km 207)

Images by Roger Thomas

Anthony Geslin and Bouygues Telecom teammate talk to friends on the way to the sign-in
British champion Roger Hammond (Discovery Channel) chews the fat with Engish fans before the sign-in
All together at Turhout (km 42) but a Saunier-Duval rider is getting frisky

Friday, April 1 - Training on the parcours

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Matthew Conn

Fassa Bortolo start their climb of the Koppenberg
Fassa Bortolo riders don't look up now, but...'
Fassa Bortolo riders start to feel the pinch as the Koppenberg steepens
Team Phonak were well supported on their training ride
Phonak's Slovenian champion Uros Murn cresting the Koppenberg
Phonak's Swiss Champion Grégory Rast at the top of the Koppenberg
The Koppenberg awaits...
Domina Vacanze riding along the Schelde from Oudenaarde
Domina Vacanze heading for the Oude Kwaremont from Oudenaarde
Domina Vacanze riders on the Oude Kwaremont
Domina Vacanze will hope to have this many riders together on the Kwaremont
Allan Davis and Koen de Kort from a Spanish team taking a ride in the Belgian countryside
Liberty Seguros will not get away with this on Sunday
Aaron Kemps (Liberty Seguros) emerges from the bushes on the Taaienberg
Team managers also do reconnaissance. Scott Sunderland (CSC) on the Muur
Scott Sunderland talking to a group of American tourists on the top of the Muur.