Hurricane Gilbert Blows into Gent

Philippe Gilbert won this race in 2006. Last year he was treated for melanoma and had a bit of an off season. But he stormed back today, following a blistering attack by Stijn Devloder with an attack of his own with 50 km to go. He caught the day's big breakaway group and soloed the rest of the way for the victory. Nick Nuyens, one of the few to follow the original attack, came in 58 seconds back for 2nd place. Thor Hushovd took third. Full reports from CN, VN, and Pez.

In the FGBC Spring Classics Pool, the first things that needs to be mentioned is that I've taken some liberties and supplied team names for all teams. Aficionados of fine movies will surely recognize a theme. Feel free to change your team name, but stick with the theme please.

As for the competition, Team Creedence Tapes (Chris) came out on top, edging out Team Vee Vant Ze Money (Andy) 670 to 640. Team I am the Walrus (Ian) is right there as well, with 540 points, while Arlene's Team Is This Your Homework, Larry? sitting just 5 points back at 535.

They're back at it again tomorrow with Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne. Look for some of the guys who missed the winning move today and ended up saving their legs (Boonen, McEwen, Betinni, O'Grady, etc.) to be in the mix. Then again, you never know. That's the beauty of these races.

Video:



The Top 30:

1 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Française des Jeux - 4.55.25 (40.417 km/h)
2 Nick Nuyens (Bel) Cofidis - 0.58
3 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Crédit Agricole - 1.06
4 Yuriy Krivtsov (Ukr) Ag2r-La Mondiale
5 Aleksandr Kuschynski (Blr) Liquigas - 1.12
6 Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Agritubel - 1.13
7 Leif Hoste (Bel) Silence-Lotto
8 Allan Johansen (Den) Team CSC - 1.16
9 Jan Kuyckx (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Tönissteiner - 1.53
10 Arnaud Gerard (Fra) Française des Jeux
11 Sébastien Minard (Fra) Cofidis
12 Michael Friedman (USA) Slipstream Chipotle - H30 - 1.58
13 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC - 2.07
14 Markus Eichler (Ger) Team Milram - 4.26
15 Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) Silence-Lotto - 4.31
16 Wouter Weylandt (Bel) Quick Step - 4.37
17 Nico Sijmens (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Tönissteiner
18 Murilo Fischer (Bra) Liquigas
19 Anders Lund (Den) Team CSC
20 Roy Sentjens (Bel) Silence-Lotto
21 Steven Caethoven (Bel) Agritubel
22 Floris Goesinnen (Ned) Skil-Shimano
23 Kevin Ista (Bel) Agritubel - 4.49
24 Max Van Heeswijk (Ned) Willems Veranda's Continental Team
25 Koen Barbé (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen
26 Geert Verheyen (Bel) Mitsubishi-Jartazi
27 Ralf Grabsch (Ger) Team Milram
28 Filip Meirhaeghe (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Tönissteiner
29 Loyd Mondory (Fra) Ag2r-La Mondiale
30 Huub Duyn (Ned) Slipstream Chipotle - H30

Recall that the points are awarded as follows:

350
300
275
250
225
200
175
150
125
110
100
95
90
85
80
75
70
65
60
55
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5

All other finishers also get 5 pts.

Today's Results:

Creedence Tapes (Chris) - 670
Vee Vant Ze Money (Andy) - 640
I am the Walrus (Ian) - 540
Is This Your Homework, Larry? (Arlene) - 535
New Shit (Matt) - 280
Bunny Lebowski's Toe (Dallas) - 185
Shomer F*cking Shabbas (Donna) - 180
Roadie for Metallica (Bill) - 105
The Chinaman is Not the Issue (Paddy) - 90
Obviously You're Not a Golfer (Charlene) - 70
Shut the F*ck Up Jonny (Jonny B) - 40
That Rug Really Tied the Room Together (Tomek) - 15
Uli Kunkel (Adam) - 10
White Russians (Victor) - 10
Who's Got Your Undies? (David S) - 5
You're Out of Your Element, Jonny (Jonny G) - 5
That Good Sasparilla (Rachel) - 0

OTT: Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Black Tongue