Boom, Boom, Boonen

Tom Boonen finally exorcised the demons that have been haunting him during the 2008 Spring Classics season. He entered the velodrome in Roubaix alongside Cancellara and Ballan. The three of them launched the decisive move of the day with 36 km left, attacking an already shreded field out of a leading group of eight. In the lap around the velodrome, Boonen through down a fierce sprint that neither Cancellara nor Ballan could counter. He won by several bike lengths. Cancellara took second and Ballan third. It was the same podium as 2006, but a different order. Gorgeous George Hincapie had yet another unlucky day in Paris - Roubaix. Among the favourites, Flecha and Pozzato had some bad luck too. They both crashed with 60 km left and, while they made it back, they couldn't keep the pace and were spit out the back again as the lead group kept hammering. More from CN, VN and Pez.

Over in the FGBC Spring Classics Pool, it was Team New Shit (Matt) with the big day (840 points) followed closely by Arlene's Is This Your Homeworf, Larry? (800). Andy's Vee Vant Ze Money picked up 80 points on pool leader Creedence Tapes heading into the final three races. Something tells me that Rebellin will show up for these as he usually does, and with a gap of just 170 points separating 1st and 2nd it's not even close to being over yet. Overall, it was a rare day in that every team picked up at least some points. But Rachel and Jonny B came close to being shut out, with 10 and 5 points, respectively.

Four more races to go. It all contines on Wednesday with the Scheldeprijs Vlaanderen. Another chance for some of the slightly less studly riders to shine.

The Top 30:

1 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step - 5.58.42 (43.407 km/h)
2 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC - 0.01
3 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre - s.t.
4 Martijn Maaskant (Ned) Slipstream Chipotle Presented By H30 - 3.39
5 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team CSC - 3.57
6 Leif Hoste (Bel) Silence - Lotto - s.t.
7 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Quick Step - 3.59
8 Johan Van Summeren (Bel) Silence - Lotto - 4.35
9 George Hincapie (USA) Team High Road - 5.12
10 Fabio Baldato (Ita) Lampre - s.t.
11 Frédéric Guesdon (Fra) Française des Jeux - s.t.
12 Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Rabobank - s.t.
13 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas - s.t.
14 Wim De Vocht (Bel) Silence - Lotto - s.t.
15 Staf Scheirlinckx (Bel) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone - s.t.
16 Marcus Ljungqvist (Swe) Team CSC - s.t.
17 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Team High Road - 5.20
18 Sven Krauss (Ger) Gerolsteiner - 7.18
19 Steven De Jongh (Ned) Quick Step - s.t.
20 Matti Breschel (Den) Team CSC - s.t.
21 Nick Nuyens (Bel) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone - s.t.
22 Murilo Fischer (Bra) Liquigas - s.t.
23 Roger Hammond (GBr) Team High Road - s.t.
24 Wouter Weylandt (Bel) Quick Step - s.t.
25 Christophe Mengin (Fra) Française des Jeux - s.t.
26 Ralf Grabsch (Ger) Team Milram - 7.20
27 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) Silence - Lotto - s.t.
28 Steffen Wesemann (Swi) Cycle Collstrop - 7.27
29 Tom Veelers (Ned) Skil-Shimano - 7.34
30 Markus Eichler (Ger) Team Milram - 7.39


Today's Results:

New Shit (Matt) - 840
Is This Your Homework, Larry? (Arlene) - 800
Vee Vant Ze Money (Andy) - 740
Creedence Tapes (Chris) - 660
Little Lebowski Urban Achievers (Ian) - 655
White Russians (Victor) - 585
That Rug Really Tied the Room Together (Tomek) - 445
A Roadie for Metallica (Bill) - 410
Obviously You're Not a Golfer (Charlene) - 410
These Men Are Cowards (Paddy) - 300
Shomer F*cking Shabbas (Donna) 0 200
Bunny Lebowski's Toe (Dallas) - 200
F*ck Sympathy (David S) - 180
Uli Kunkel powered by Karl Hungus (Adam) - 175
Nice Marmot (Hal) - 125
You're Out of Your Element, Jonny (Jonny G) - 125
That Good Sasparilla (Rachel) - 10
Shut the F*ck Up Jonny (Jonny B) - 5


Overall Standings [corrected]:

Creedence Tapes (Chris) - 5395
Vee Vant Ze Money (Andy) - 5225
Is This Your Homework, Larry? (Arlene) - 3795
Little Lebowski Urban Achievers (Ian) - 3405
New Shit (Matt) - 3000
These Men Are Cowards (Paddy) - 2130
A Roadie for Metallica (Bill) - 2085
White Russians (Victor) - 1755
Nice Marmot (Hal) - 1680
Obviously You're Not a Golfer (Charlene) - 1595
Uli Kunkel powered by Karl Hungus (Adam) - 1530
That Rug Really Tied the Room Together (Tomek) - 1490
F*ck Sympathy (David S) - 1305
That Good Sasparilla (Rachel) - 1215
Bunny Lebowski's Toe (Dallas) - 1200
You're Out of Your Element, Jonny (Jonny G) - 1195
Shomer F*cking Shabbas (Donna) - 1070
Shut the F*ck Up Jonny (Jonny B) - 465

OTT: Jim White, A Town Called Amen