96th Scheldeprijs Vlaanderen - 1.HC

Belgium, April 16, 2008

Photography

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Images by Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net

• Robbie McEwen (Silence Lotto) was hoping to improve upon last year's second place, but wound up third.
• Tom Boonen (Quick Step) was delivered to the front right on time by his lead-out train.
• … he was certain he'd won it but doh! What's this?
• Mark Cavendish sneaks past just at the line to beat Boonen.

Images by AFP Photo

• Cavendish realizes he's won while Boonen realizes he's lost.
• The podium: Boonen, Cavendish and McEwen.
• This is why its called the Scheldeprijs as it starts and ends near the Schelde canal.

Images by Bjorn Haake/Cyclingnews.com

• Milram relies on extreme power and milk products to win its races.
• Jerseys for SouthAustralia.com were also for sale, among the many Quick Step and Silence Lotto outfits.
• Salvatore Commesso before the start and hoping for little wind.
• Jan Boven in his last race as a professional, but no talk of backing out when he passes his house after 50km.
• Paris-Roubaix winner Tom Boonen found the cobbles in Antwerp a bit hard to get his foot in the pedal.
• Tom Boonen relaxed before the start as he just came from a brilliant win in France.
• Christopher Froome lines up with a couple of his Barloworld team-mates.
• The minor teams were chasing the break, but Quick Step was having an eye on them.
• Quick Step tried to control the front, more or less.
• Robbie McEwen sitting close to the front.
• René Weissinger (Team Volksbank) was looking to stay in contention for the sprint. He is the left of the two Volksbank riders in dark blue.
• Niko Eeckhout (Topsport Vlaanderen) is always there in those races.
• Bert Roesems (Silence-Lotto) is close to being done with his team duties.
• Glenn D'Hollander (Silence-Lotto) has worked for Silence-Lotto and dropped back in the local laps.
• Albert Timmer (Skil-Shimano) and Koen Barbé (Topsport Vlaanderen) were close to being reeled in when they entered the start-finish line for the second time.
• Matthias Vanhie (Profel) and Stijn Hoornaert (Willems Veranda's Continental Team) were the next to try, but they were also reeled in.
• Cavendish flatted with a little more than 30 kilometres to go, but calmly made it back to the bunch.
• Cavendish in the rollout and nobody was close, as the Brit came by with tremendous speed.
• Marcel Sieberg (l) and Edvald Boasson Hagen celebrate the victory of team-mate Cavendish.
• Cavendish had a quick party with his team, before heading off to the podium.
• McEwen jokingly assisted Cavendish after the latter slipped and fell on the podium.
• Boonen, Cavendish and McEwen were on the podium.
• Cavendish at the winner's press conference.

Images by Stephen McMahon

• Antwerp hosted the start of the 96th Scheldeprijs Vlaanderen.
• The Cycle Collstrop Team being presented to the crowd at the sign on.
• A protest by Belgian fire services added further colour to the start.
• The Bodysol - Euro Millions - Pôle Team at the start.
• Some of the Quick Step team assembles at the sign on.
• Robbie McEwen (Silence - Lotto) seemed to be enjoying the sunshine and scenery.
• A relaxed looking Tom Boonen (Quick Step).
• The Paris-Roubaix winner welcomes the Irish contingent of the 'Tom Boonen fan club'. Martina Kelly, Gerard Cromwell and Matt Kelly had had an early start to make it from Dublin to Antwerp in time to meet their hero before the race got under way.
• Riders from the Profel Prorace Continental Team were obviously keen to get the show on the road.
• The race rolls out on the cobbled streets of Antwerp with weather prospects looking very promising.
• Servais Knaven (Team High Road) at the head of affairs as the race enters finishing circuit to begin the first of three laps.
• Belgian Koen Barbé (Topsport Vlaanderen) and Dutchman Albert Timmer (Skil-Shimano) spent the majority of their day off the front of the bunch.
• Mark Cavendish (Team High Road) had the misfortune of a second most untimely puncture in the closing kilometres of the race.
• Ian Stannard (Landbouwkrediet - Tönissteiner) tried in vain to escape as the bell rang for the final lap.
• The bunch closes in with fourteen kilometres remaining.
• Unlucky thirteen: Dennis Haueisen (Team Milram) picks himself up after hitting the deck with thirteen kilometres of racing left.
• With less than one hundred metres to go , it looks as though Tom Boonen is the likely winner.
• 'Big Tom' begins to celebrate as he approaches the line after a furious sprint...
• ...only to see victory snatched from his grasp at the last possible second by a perfectly timed lunge from a fast finishing Mark Cavendish (Team High Road).
• Tom Boonen looks a little shocked perhaps both at having temporarily lost his balance and Cavendish's sudden arrival. Cavendish appears understandably thrilled with his victory.
• 'Where the #@%£ did he come from, Wilfried?' Boonen reflects on the sprint.
• A smile begins to creep across Mark Cavendish's face. His second victory in the Scheldeprijs was especially sweet.
• The final podium (L-R) Tom Boonen (Quick Step) 2nd, Mark Cavendish (Team High Road) 1st, and Robbie McEwen (Silence - Lotto) 3rd.
• Boonen acts swiftly, exacting his revenge with a ruthless attack on Cavendish. A wise Robbie McEwen avoids getting caught in any potential crossfire.
• 'Showdown at the Schoten Corral' Cavendish loses this particular duel with Boonen after slipping on the champagne-splattered podium. Thankfully only his pride seemed to have been injured.
• Robbie McEwen tries to steady a shaken but not stirred Mark Cavendish after his fall.
• Order was restored and the winner's bouquets presented.
• A striking sculpture identical to the Scheldeprijs winner's trophy is on permanent display beside the finish line in Schoten. The scene portrayed by the piece is particularly apt when you consider the small margin that separated the first three across the line in 2008.
• The victor's mount Mark Cavendish's very handsome Giant. Number One for another year.