Terpstra solos to Dwars door Vlaanderen victory

Niki Terpstra (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) soloed to victory in Dwars door Vlaanderen to win the Belgian classic for the second time in three years. Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Sharp) won the sprint for second ahead of Borut Bozic (Astana) 19 seconds later.

"I was very motivated for this race," Terpstra said. "I trained really well for this, put a lot of effort into this. When it pays off, it's a great feeling."

The Dutchman bridged to an eight-man break at the top of the Paterberg at 30km to go and rode right past the escapees into a solo lead. While a four-man chase group of Alejandro Valverde (Movistar Team), Nicki Sørensen (Tinkoff-Saxo), Stijn Devolder (Trek Factory Racing) and Gert Steegmans (Omega Pharma - Quick-Step) closed to within 15 seconds, they could not catch the flying Dutchman.

The four chasers would be swept up at 1.5km remaining as Terpstra's lead grew back to 30 seconds. With Terpstra's advantage unassailable, the peloton set up their sprint for the final two podium places.

Since the race is not on the World Tour calendar, riders did not have radios to allow Terpstra to know what was going on behind, but the former Dutch champion has faith that his team would protect his lead.

"I knew the team was behind me to defend my attack. So, it gave me a lot of morale," Terpstra said. "I put myself in time trial mode and went to the finish. This was actually a long time trial for me. It was all headwind until the finish. I gave the best I could and in the end I still had a lot of power in my legs."

"In the last kilometer I couldn't see the gap behind me. But on the last 600 meters I could see they weren't behind me. It gave me a good feeling, but you never know until you cross the finish line.

"I was able to finish the job of the whole team and I am happy with my condition."

How it unfolded

The start in Roeselare was not only overshadowed by U.S. President Barack Obama's visit but also by several rain clouds. As soon as the peloton left the main square in Roeselare, however, the precipitation stopped. A fast first hour of racing wore many riders down with a large lead group of 21 riders eventually going clear and animating the first half of the race.

In the peloton Orica-GreenEdge and Movistar, two of the three teams who missed the move, did most of the work to keep the group under control. The time gap between the two groups never grew extended beyond three minutes.

When approaching the Eikenberg at 58km from the finish the Garmin-Sharp team upped the pace in the peloton to bring the gap down to approximately one minute. The lead group briefly split apart on the Eikenberg and a little later Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) featured in front of the peloton over the cobbled climb which often kicks off the finale.

In the gutter of the Taaienberg Kenneth Van Bilsen (Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise) showed off his good legs in the lead group while Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) did the same in the peloton, closely being marked by Jens Keukeleire (Orica GreenEdge) and Steve Chainel (AG2R La Mondiale).

When approaching the Oude Kwaremont climb the gap between the lead group, now reduced to eight riders, and the peloton was half a minute. The eight leaders included Markel Irizar Aranburu (Trek Factory Racing), Kenneth Van Bilsen and Tom Van Asbroeck (Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise), Gediminas Bagdonas (AG2R La Mondiale), Jos van Emden (Belkin Pro Cycling Team), Nikolas Maes (Omega Pharma-Quick Step), Aleksejs Saramotins (IAM Cycling) and Romain Zingle (Cofidis, Solutions Credits).

On the 2.2km-long cobbled climb at 35km from the finish in Waregem Keukeleire and Ian Stannard (Sky) led the peloton which completely split apart. In the few kilometres towards the short but steep Paterberg the first part of the peloton closed the final gap on the leaders, being led by Terpstra and Stannard.

Just over the top Terpstra accelerated and he quickly gained a good gap. On the cobbles of the Varent the riders from Trek Factory Racing tried to keep Terpstra in check but instead he increased his lead up to half a minute.

"The attack on the Paterberg wasn't planned, but in the final we know we have to be in front when we reach that point. I passed the front group on the Paterberg, I accelerated, and then I was alone," Terpstra said.

Twenty kilometres from the finish Devolder attacked the peloton on the Vossenhol climb with Nicki Sørensen (Tinkoff-Saxo), Gert Steegmans (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) and Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) marking his wheel.

With Steegmans marking the move and not contributing to the chase, the remaining three riders closed to within 15 seconds of Terpstra, but would be unable to come any closer to the powerhouse Dutchman.

Full Results

Swipe to scroll horizontally
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Niki Terpstra (Ned) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team4:31:43
2Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin Sharp0:00:17
3Borut Bozic (Slo) Astana Pro TeamRow 2 - Cell 2
4Jean-Pierre Drucker (Lux) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 3 - Cell 2
5Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) IAM CyclingRow 4 - Cell 2
6Jens Debusschere (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 5 - Cell 2
7Tom Van Asbroeck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 6 - Cell 2
8Oscar Gatto (Ita) CannondaleRow 7 - Cell 2
9Jens Keukeleire (Bel) Orica GreenedgeRow 8 - Cell 2
10Yauheni Hutarovich (Blr) AG2R La MondialeRow 9 - Cell 2
11Maarten Wynants (Bel) Belkin Pro Cycling TeamRow 10 - Cell 2
12Francisco José Ventoso Alberdi (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 11 - Cell 2
13Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Team KatushaRow 12 - Cell 2
14Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 13 - Cell 2
15Ian Stannard (GBr) Team SkyRow 14 - Cell 2
16Michael Morkov (Den) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 15 - Cell 2
17Florian Senechal (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 16 - Cell 2
18Silvan Dillier (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 17 - Cell 2
19Steve Chainel (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 18 - Cell 2
20Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 19 - Cell 2
21Laurens De Vreese (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 20 - Cell 2
22Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 21 - Cell 2
23Björn Leukemans (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 22 - Cell 2
24Kenneth Van Bilsen (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 23 - Cell 2
25Mitchell Docker (Aus) Orica GreenedgeRow 24 - Cell 2
26Andreas Schillinger (Ger) Team Netapp - EnduraRow 25 - Cell 2
27Yves Lampaert (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 26 - Cell 2
28Danny Van Poppel (Ned) Trek Factory RacingRow 27 - Cell 2
29Tim Declercq (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 28 - Cell 2
30Jos Van Emden (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling TeamRow 29 - Cell 2
31Gediminas Bagdonas (Ltu) AG2R La MondialeRow 30 - Cell 2
32Klaas Lodewyck (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 31 - Cell 2
33Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek Factory RacingRow 32 - Cell 2
34Boy Van Poppel (Ned) Trek Factory RacingRow 33 - Cell 2
35Aleksejs Saramotins (Lat) IAM CyclingRow 34 - Cell 2
36Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 35 - Cell 2
37Raymond Kreder (Ned) Garmin SharpRow 36 - Cell 2
38Romain Zingle (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 37 - Cell 2
39Viacheslav Kuznetsov (Rus) Team KatushaRow 38 - Cell 2
40Julien Vermote (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 39 - Cell 2
41Mirko Selvaggi (Ita) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 40 - Cell 2
42Markel Irizar Aranburu (Spa) Trek Factory RacingRow 41 - Cell 2
43Pim Ligthart (Ned) Lotto BelisolRow 42 - Cell 2
44Nick Nuyens (Bel) Garmin SharpRow 43 - Cell 2
45Dylan Van Baarle (Ned) Garmin SharpRow 44 - Cell 2
46Nikolas Maes (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 45 - Cell 2
47Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Astana Pro TeamRow 46 - Cell 2
48Nicki Sörensen (Den) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 47 - Cell 2
49Gert Steegmans (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 48 - Cell 2
50Kristijan Koren (Slo) CannondaleRow 49 - Cell 2
51Stijn Devolder (Bel) Trek Factory RacingRow 50 - Cell 2
52Roger Kluge (Ger) IAM CyclingRow 51 - Cell 2
53Damien Gaudin (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 52 - Cell 2
54Jelle Wallays (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 53 - Cell 2
55Mathew Hayman (Aus) Orica Greenedge0:00:28
56Rudiger Selig (Ger) Team Katusha0:04:32
57Michael Schwarzmann (Ger) Team Netapp - EnduraRow 56 - Cell 2
58Juan Jose Lobato Del Valle (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 57 - Cell 2
59Andrew Fenn (GBr) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 58 - Cell 2
60Martin Reimer (Ger) MTN - QhubekaRow 59 - Cell 2
61Nikolay Trusov (Rus) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 60 - Cell 2
62Maciej Bodnar (Pol) CannondaleRow 61 - Cell 2
63Alessandro Bazzana (Ita) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling TeamRow 62 - Cell 2
64Christian Knees (Ger) Team SkyRow 63 - Cell 2
65Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 64 - Cell 2
66Luke Rowe (GBr) Team SkyRow 65 - Cell 2
67Alan Marangoni (Ita) CannondaleRow 66 - Cell 2
68Jarl Salomein (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 67 - Cell 2
69Ruslan Tleubayev (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRow 68 - Cell 2
70Christopher Juul Jensen (Den) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 69 - Cell 2
71Adrien Petit (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 70 - Cell 2
72Gert Joeaar (Est) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 71 - Cell 2
73Lloyd Mondory (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 72 - Cell 2
74Alexander Porsev (Rus) Team Katusha0:05:38
75Egoitz Garcia Echeguibel (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 74 - Cell 2
76Marco Marcato (Ita) CannondaleRow 75 - Cell 2
77Eugenio Alafaci (Ita) Trek Factory RacingRow 76 - Cell 2
78Aidis Kruopis (Ltu) Orica GreenedgeRow 77 - Cell 2
79Davide Appollonio (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale0:08:15
80Patrick Facchini (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 79 - Cell 2
81Johann Van Zyl (RSA) MTN - QhubekaRow 80 - Cell 2
82Marco Bandiera (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 81 - Cell 2
83Stijn Steels (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 82 - Cell 2
84Frederik Veuchelen (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 83 - Cell 2
85James Vanlandschoot (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 84 - Cell 2
86Edwig Cammaerts (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 85 - Cell 2
87Nicky Van Der Lijke (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling TeamRow 86 - Cell 2
88Valentin Iglinskiy (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRow 87 - Cell 2
89Steele Von Hoff (Aus) Garmin SharpRow 88 - Cell 2
90Antonio Parrinello (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 89 - Cell 2
91Marko Kump (Slo) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 90 - Cell 2
92Marcel Aregger (Swi) IAM CyclingRow 91 - Cell 2
93Hugo Houle (Can) AG2R La MondialeRow 92 - Cell 2
94Sean De Bie (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 93 - Cell 2
95Jasha Sütterlin (Ger) Movistar TeamRow 94 - Cell 2
96Imanol Erviti (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 95 - Cell 2
97Jesse Sergent (NZl) Trek Factory RacingRow 96 - Cell 2
98Alex Dowsett (GBr) Movistar TeamRow 97 - Cell 2
99Vegard Breen (Nor) Lotto BelisolRow 98 - Cell 2
100Christopher Sutton (Aus) Team SkyRow 99 - Cell 2
101Jack Bauer (NZl) Garmin SharpRow 100 - Cell 2
102Johnny Hoogerland (Ned) Androni GiocattoliRow 101 - Cell 2
103Paolo Longo Borghini (Ita) CannondaleRow 102 - Cell 2
104Alexey Tsatevitch (Rus) Team KatushaRow 103 - Cell 2
105Jérôme Pineau (Fra) IAM CyclingRow 104 - Cell 2
106Frederik Willems (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 105 - Cell 2
107Kenny De Haes (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 106 - Cell 2
108Andrea Zordan (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 107 - Cell 2
109Wesley Kreder (Ned) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 108 - Cell 2
110Stephen Cummings (GBr) BMC Racing TeamRow 109 - Cell 2
111Gatis Smukulis (Lat) Team KatushaRow 110 - Cell 2
112Fabio Silvestre (Por) Trek Factory Racing0:16:04
113Kevin Ista (Bel) IAM CyclingRow 112 - Cell 2
114Edward King (USA) CannondaleRow 113 - Cell 2
115Jan Ghyselinck (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 114 - Cell 2
116Dmitriy Muravyev (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRow 115 - Cell 2
117Arman Kamyshev (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRow 116 - Cell 2
118Rick Zabel (Ger) BMC Racing TeamRow 117 - Cell 2
119John Murphy (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling TeamRow 118 - Cell 2
120Jonathan Mcevoy (GBr) Team Netapp - EnduraRow 119 - Cell 2
121Gijs Van Hoecke (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 120 - Cell 2
DNFMatthias Krizek (Aut) CannondaleRow 121 - Cell 2
DNFEnrique Sanz (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 122 - Cell 2
DNFBenat Intxausti Elorriaga (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 123 - Cell 2
DNFSalvatore Puccio (Ita) Team SkyRow 124 - Cell 2
DNFGabriel Rasch (Nor) Team SkyRow 125 - Cell 2
DNFDaniel Oss (Ita) BMC Racing TeamRow 126 - Cell 2
DNFSebastian Lander (Den) BMC Racing TeamRow 127 - Cell 2
DNFDanilo Wyss (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 128 - Cell 2
DNFLasse Norman Hansen (Den) Garmin SharpRow 129 - Cell 2
DNFDavid Millar (GBr) Garmin SharpRow 130 - Cell 2
DNFDaniil Fominykh (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRow 131 - Cell 2
DNFDmitriy Gruzdev (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRow 132 - Cell 2
DNFMatthew Harley Goss (Aus) Orica GreenedgeRow 133 - Cell 2
DNFMichael Hepburn (Aus) Orica GreenedgeRow 134 - Cell 2
DNFJens Mouris (Ned) Orica GreenedgeRow 135 - Cell 2
DNFSvein Tuft (Can) Orica GreenedgeRow 136 - Cell 2
DNFAliaksandr Kuchynski (Blr) Team KatushaRow 137 - Cell 2
DNFAlexander Rybakov (Rus) Team KatushaRow 138 - Cell 2
DNFManuele Boaro (Ita) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 139 - Cell 2
DNFMichal Kolár (Svk) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 140 - Cell 2
DNFJay Mccarthy (Aus) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 141 - Cell 2
DNFMaxime Daniel (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 142 - Cell 2
DNFMoreno Hofland (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling TeamRow 143 - Cell 2
DNFJetse Bol (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling TeamRow 144 - Cell 2
DNFRick Flens (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling TeamRow 145 - Cell 2
DNFBarry Markus (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling TeamRow 146 - Cell 2
DNFKris Boeckmans (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 147 - Cell 2
DNFJonas Vangenechten (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 148 - Cell 2
DNFDominic Klemme (Ger) IAM CyclingRow 149 - Cell 2
DNFMatteo Pelucchi (Ita) IAM CyclingRow 150 - Cell 2
DNFLouis Verhelst (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 151 - Cell 2
DNFCarlos Jose Ochoa (Ven) Androni GiocattoliRow 152 - Cell 2
DNFNicola Testi (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 153 - Cell 2
DNFKenny Robert Van Hummel (Ned) Androni GiocattoliRow 154 - Cell 2
DNFIgnatas Konovalovas (Ltu) MTN - QhubekaRow 155 - Cell 2
DNFBradley Potgieter (RSA) MTN - QhubekaRow 156 - Cell 2
DNFSongezo Jim (RSA) MTN - QhubekaRow 157 - Cell 2
DNFSam Bennett (Irl) Team Netapp - EnduraRow 158 - Cell 2
DNFBlaz Jarc (Slo) Team Netapp - EnduraRow 159 - Cell 2
DNFRalf Matzka (Ger) Team Netapp - EnduraRow 160 - Cell 2
DNFDaniel Schorn (Aut) Team Netapp - EnduraRow 161 - Cell 2
DNFKen Hanson (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling TeamRow 162 - Cell 2
DNFAldo Ino Ilesic (Slo) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling TeamRow 163 - Cell 2
DNFChristopher Jones (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling TeamRow 164 - Cell 2
DNFLuke Keough (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling TeamRow 165 - Cell 2
DNFDaniel Summerhill (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling TeamRow 166 - Cell 2

 

Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*

Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets

After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59

Join now for unlimited access

Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Latest on Cyclingnews