Vanmarcke wins Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

Sep Vanmarcke (Garmin-Barracuda) staged his break-out performance at the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, taking the race by the reins by forcing the final three-man breakaway and then stunning favourite Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-Quickstep) in the sprint to take the victory.

Sky's Juan Antonio Flecha was third.

“I couldn’t believe my eyes. I beat Tom Boonen, my big hero,” an emotional Vanmarcke said during the post-race interview with Sporza. He knew that in a sprint against Boonen, his chances were slim and tried to shake him off with a few attacks, but said, "I know if I have a really great day, I can sprint pretty well."

Boonen came in with generous and genuine congratulations for his young compatriot, and admitted to the press that he misjudged the approach to the line. "I saw the finish this morning and still I get caught. I thought I went at the right moment, but ... the race was 50 meters too long."

Flecha, standing on the podium for the fifth time in six years, was happy to return to the stage, but said that while this is clearly his kind of course, only the win matters.

However, the Spaniard was impressed by Vanmarcke. "You can see that the guy has tremendous talent in these races. He is impressive. That he beat Boonen in the sprint surprised me. It just goes to show, the race goes to the finish line."

Vanmarcke, 23, previously showed his Classics promise by taking second in the 2010 Gent-Wevelgem while riding with Topsport Vlaanderen, and before as a podium finisher in the U23 version of the Tour of Flanders, but today's victory showed a never-before seen brilliance, both in fitness and in tactical prowess.

The decisive breakaway was formed on the Taaienberg, 59km from the finish in sunny Ghent. Behind a break of three, Boonen tested his legs on the climb, and Vanmarcke swiftly followed. Matthew Hayman (Sky), Matti Breschel (Rabobank), Thor Hushovd (BMC), Juan Antonio Flecha (Sky) and Dries Devenyns (Omega Pharma-Quickstep) were able to catch on. Behind them double winner Philippe Gilbert flatted and lost a lot of time.

With 39km to go the Boonen group caught the two remaining leaders, Sven Vandousselaere and Lieuwe Westra. It was on the Molenberg with 37km to go that Vanmarcke gave the first indication of his intentions - he attacked at the base of this final climb, and Boonen fought to catch on. Hushovd, Breschel, Hayman, Flecha and Devenyns eventually re-joined, but the early leaders were dropped for good.

On the cobbles of the Paddestraat with 31km to go Vanmarcke unleashed his devils once again, the acceleration ridding him of Breschel and Hushovd. With a seemingly dire tactical disadvantage, in a group with two proven classics men: Boonen and Flecha, each with a teammate, Vanmarcke was not intimidated.

Vanmarcke put in another acceleration to dislodge Devenyns and Hayman, and still had enough energy to contribute to the work in the final 20km to keep the trio clear.

The young star-to-be put in one last dig with 1km to go, trying to get away, but when Boonen shut down the maneuver, the Garmin rider sat on the back while Flecha set the pace, the Spaniard keeping a careful eye on his companions with frequent looks over his shoulder.

Boonen opened up the sprint ahead of the 200m to go mark, but Vanmarcke was able to get in behind and then put in a stinging acceleration to jump past and grab his first Classic victory.

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Sep Vanmarcke (Bel) Garmin-Barracuda4:52:34
2Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickstepRow 1 - Cell 2
3Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Sky ProcyclingRow 2 - Cell 2
4Heinrich Haussler (Aus) Garmin-Barracuda0:00:25
5Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 4 - Cell 2
6Marco Marcato (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 5 - Cell 2
7Lloyd Mondory (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 6 - Cell 2
8Matthieu Ladagnous (Fra) Fdj-Big MatRow 7 - Cell 2
9Alexandre Pichot (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 8 - Cell 2
10Staf Scheirlinckx (Bel) Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda'sRow 9 - Cell 2
11John Degenkolb (Ger) Project 1t4iRow 10 - Cell 2
12Luca Paolini (Ita) Katusha TeamRow 11 - Cell 2
13Maarten Wynants (Bel) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 12 - Cell 2
14Kristof Goddaert (Bel) AG2R La MondialeRow 13 - Cell 2
15Bobbie Traksel (Ned) LandbouwkredietRow 14 - Cell 2
16Sébastien Turgot (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 15 - Cell 2
17Leif Hoste (Bel) Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda'sRow 16 - Cell 2
18Oscar Gatto (Ita) Farnese Vini - Selle ItaliaRow 17 - Cell 2
19Jelle Wallays (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 18 - Cell 2
20Frédéric Amorison (Bel) LandbouwkredietRow 19 - Cell 2
21Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Omega Pharma-QuickstepRow 20 - Cell 2
22Davy Commeyne (Bel) LandbouwkredietRow 21 - Cell 2
23Bernard Eisel (Aut) Sky ProcyclingRow 22 - Cell 2
24Mathew Hayman (Aus) Sky ProcyclingRow 23 - Cell 2
25Laurens De Vreese (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 24 - Cell 2
26Ian Stannard (GBr) Sky ProcyclingRow 25 - Cell 2
27Christian Knees (Ger) Sky ProcyclingRow 26 - Cell 2
28Dominique Rollin (Can) Fdj-Big MatRow 27 - Cell 2
29Thor Hushovd (Nor) BMC Racing TeamRow 28 - Cell 2
30Matti Breschel (Den) Rabobank Cycling Team0:00:36
31Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing Team0:00:41
32Koen De Kort (Ned) Project 1t4iRow 31 - Cell 2
33Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quickstep0:00:51
34Dries Devenyns (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickstepRow 33 - Cell 2
35Andreas Klier (Ger) Garmin-Barracuda0:00:54
36Bram Tankink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team0:00:59
37Marcus Burghardt (Ger) BMC Racing Team0:01:05
38Alessandro Ballan (Ita) BMC Racing Team0:01:32
39Aleksejs Saramotins (Lat) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne0:05:22
40Kevin Hulsmans (Bel) Farnese Vini - Selle ItaliaRow 39 - Cell 2
41Laszlo Bodrogi (Fra) Team Type 1-Sanofi0:05:30
42Ramon Sinkeldam (Ned) Project 1t4iRow 41 - Cell 2
43Mirko Selvaggi (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 42 - Cell 2
44Taylor Phinney (USA) BMC Racing TeamRow 43 - Cell 2
45Vegard Stake Laengen (Nor) Team Type 1-SanofiRow 44 - Cell 2
46Vicente Reynes Mimo (Spa) Lotto Belisol TeamRow 45 - Cell 2
47Jens Debusschere (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamRow 46 - Cell 2
48Maxime Vantomme (Bel) Katusha TeamRow 47 - Cell 2
49Sébastien Hinault (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 48 - Cell 2
50Marcel Sieberg (Ger) Lotto Belisol TeamRow 49 - Cell 2
51Pieter Vanspeybrouck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 50 - Cell 2
52Romain Lemarchand (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 51 - Cell 2
53Johan Le Bon (Fra) Bretagne - SchullerRow 52 - Cell 2
54Stijn Devolder (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 53 - Cell 2
55James Vanlandschoot (Bel) Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda'sRow 54 - Cell 2
56Tomas Vaitkus (Ltu) Greenedge Cycling TeamRow 55 - Cell 2
57Renaud Dion (Fra) Bretagne - SchullerRow 56 - Cell 2
58Bjorn Leukemans (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 57 - Cell 2
59Jens Keukeleire (Bel) Greenedge Cycling TeamRow 58 - Cell 2
60Arnaud Gerard (Fra) Fdj-Big MatRow 59 - Cell 2
61Vincent Jerome (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 60 - Cell 2
62Steve Houanard (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 61 - Cell 2
63Anthony Geslin (Fra) Fdj-Big MatRow 62 - Cell 2
64Angelo Tulik (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 63 - Cell 2
65Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Omega Pharma-QuickstepRow 64 - Cell 2
66Frederik Willems (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamRow 65 - Cell 2
67Manuel Quinziato (Ita) BMC Racing TeamRow 66 - Cell 2
68Mickael Delage (Fra) Fdj-Big MatRow 67 - Cell 2
69Ole Gabriel Rasch (Nor) Fdj-Big MatRow 68 - Cell 2
70Sven Vandousselaere (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 69 - Cell 2
71Bert De Waele (Bel) LandbouwkredietRow 70 - Cell 2
72Koen Barbe (Bel) LandbouwkredietRow 71 - Cell 2
73Gert Steegmans (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickstepRow 72 - Cell 2
74Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 73 - Cell 2
75Jeremy Hunt (GBr) Sky ProcyclingRow 74 - Cell 2
76Christopher Sutton (Aus) Sky ProcyclingRow 75 - Cell 2
77Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 76 - Cell 2
78Lieuwe Westra (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 77 - Cell 2
79William Bonnet (Fra) Fdj-Big MatRow 78 - Cell 2
80Stijn Neirynck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 79 - Cell 2
81David Veilleux (Can) Team Europcar0:07:45
82Edwig Cammaerts (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 81 - Cell 2
83Markus Eichler (Ger) Team NetappRow 82 - Cell 2
84Evert Verbist (Bel) Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda'sRow 83 - Cell 2
85Rob Goris (Bel) Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda'sRow 84 - Cell 2
86Preben Van Hecke (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 85 - Cell 2
87Frederik Veuchelen (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 86 - Cell 2
88Romain Zingle (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 87 - Cell 2
89Aliaksandr Kuschynski (Blr) Katusha TeamRow 88 - Cell 2
90Jack Bauer (NZl) Garmin-BarracudaRow 89 - Cell 2
91Baden Cooke (Aus) Greenedge Cycling TeamRow 90 - Cell 2
92Dirk Bellemakers (Ned) LandbouwkredietRow 91 - Cell 2
93Andreas Schillinger (Ger) Team NetappRow 92 - Cell 2
94Guillaume Boivin (Can) Spidertech Powered By C10Row 93 - Cell 2
95Jérôme Baugnies (Bel) Team NetappRow 94 - Cell 2
96Michael Schär (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 95 - Cell 2
97Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2R La MondialeRow 96 - Cell 2
98Paul Martens (Ger) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 97 - Cell 2
99Maxim Belkov (Rus) Katusha TeamRow 98 - Cell 2
100Pier Paolo De Negri (Ita) Farnese Vini - Selle ItaliaRow 99 - Cell 2
101Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha TeamRow 100 - Cell 2
102Marco Haller (Aut) Katusha TeamRow 101 - Cell 2
103Mathieu Halleguen (Fra) Bretagne - SchullerRow 102 - Cell 2
104Florian Vachon (Fra) Bretagne - SchullerRow 103 - Cell 2
105Jean-Lou Paiani (Fra) Saur - SojasunRow 104 - Cell 2
106Manuel Belletti (Ita) AG2R La MondialeRow 105 - Cell 2
107Lars Boom (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 106 - Cell 2
108Martijn Maaskant (Ned) Garmin-BarracudaRow 107 - Cell 2
109Ramunas Navardauskas (Ltu) Garmin-BarracudaRow 108 - Cell 2
110Nico Sijmens (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 109 - Cell 2
111Egidijus Juodvalkis (Ltu) LandbouwkredietRow 110 - Cell 2
112Carlos Barredo Llamazales (Spa) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 111 - Cell 2
113Kevyn Ista (Bel) Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's0:12:44
114Arnoud Van Groen (Ned) Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda'sRow 113 - Cell 2
115Martijn Verschoor (Ned) Team Type 1-SanofiRow 114 - Cell 2
116David Boucher (Fra) Fdj-Big MatRow 115 - Cell 2
117Leonardo Giordani (Ita) Farnese Vini - Selle ItaliaRow 116 - Cell 2
118Timon Seubert (Ger) Team NetappRow 117 - Cell 2
119Christophe Laborie (Fra) Saur - SojasunRow 118 - Cell 2
120Sander Cordeel (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamRow 119 - Cell 2
121Andy Cappelle (Bel) Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda'sRow 120 - Cell 2

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