Vierhouten answers his critics

Aart Vierhouten (Skil-Shimano) gave the best possible answer to the dark rumours around him after last Thursday's Belgian police doping raids. On Friday, his name was one of many published in Gazet van Antwerpen as one of those who was raided. But he denied it completely, and on Saturday finished third in the E3 Prijs Vlaanderen.

"One day you are incorrectly named on the front page in a doping affair, and the following day they rectify it on page 50," Vierhouten said. "Three years ago, I trained with a few of the guys [Bruylandts and Omloop]. Maybe that was why the connection was made. But the police have never set foot in my house, let alone interrogated me."

In the E3 Prijs, Vierhouten rode well, winning the sprint of the chase group with Leif Hoste and Bert de Waele behind the unstoppable Boonen/Ballan combo. "A third place in this prestigious race was the biggest thing possible. Through years of work for Peter van Petegem, I can now read these races."