Tour of Flanders 2009 (Repeat)

It's not often that you see all the contenders in a big race get it really wrong - not in this day of radios and team cars. But wrong they got it on Sunday. For Lefevre's boys it was candy from a baby. I mean seriously, what the hell? So Chavanel is up front .. anyone ... anyone... and there are hits coming left right and centre back in the bunch, so Tommeke jumps, dragging his shadow Pippo along for the ride.

At this very moment it seems the rest of the pack had labotomised themselves, which is the only way i can explain them letting Devlolder bridge the growing gap to Boonan. Pippo is then the meat in a Quickstep baguette, and promptly misses the game (ah, pippo - nice guy but would you take tax advice from him?), sitting on Tom's wheel and watching Stijn romp away with the race.

So - winners and losers
Winners: well, devolder - again - I mean once is good, but luck can be a lady. Stijns luck is a faithful wife. Haussler - the german has been on great form this year, and another big race second place is in no way a disgrace. I do worry, though, especially after all the allegations coming out about Gerolsteiner over the last few seasons... and third in the sprint was Gilbert, the always nearly there belgian/french guy who looks the party but never seems to cut the cake.

Losers: Pippo was supposed to walk off with this one, but he was nowhere. He didn't make the race - he followed it. Boonan - this guy is just too obvious. Ooh - a climb 30kms from the end of a 250km slog - here he goes... but the rest of the pack have learnt their lesson from 2006/7. Like Federer, Boonan has to find a way to keep on getting better, even when he's the best. Oh, and Hushovd. Self-inflicted. Ouch.

Not a bad race overall though, and more to come as the classics come thick and fast. This is why we love cycling.