Cycling: After Milan-Sanremo and numerous semi-classics, the two cobbled monuments in 2017 are now history. With Philippe Gilbert (Quick-Step Floors) and Greg Van Avermaet (BMC), two Belgians were able to prevail. Another Belgian was the center of attention due to the end of his career: Tom Boonen. We're already looking forward to the Ardennes Classics and the first Grand Tour in May, but we're looking back at the Tour of Flanders and on Paris-Roubaix. What insights could we gain from this?
1. Greg Van Avermaet is definitely a big win driver
How often have the pundits counted Greg Van Avermaet as the winning contender in recent years? The Belgian has been known as a strong, tough and fast driver for many years. However, he was often denied a great victory. By 2015, his greatest achievements were a stage win at the Vuelta a Espana, two overall victories at the Tour de Wallonie and Paris-Tours. In 2015, after his success in the Tour de Belgique, he finally won his first stage in the Tour de France. His knot seemed to burst. In 2016 he celebrated numerous successes, including another stage win in the Tour de France and wearing the yellow jersey. He also secured Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Tirreno-Adriatico and the GP de Montréal. The crowning glory, of course, was winning the gold medal in Rio.
Some experts wondered whether this year was just an outlier or whether its new basic strength was sloshing to the surface. The Belgian gave the answer right in the first quarter of the season. He grabbed first place in the well-known classics Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, E3 Harelbeke, Ghent-Wevelgem and Paris-Roubaix. After this monument there is no doubt: Greg Van Avermaet has finally matured into a winning driver.
2. Belgium dominates the pavé classics
The fact that Belgium is a cycling nation should no longer surprise any fan. Nobody could have guessed that our little neighbors would dominate the cobblestone classics this year. With his victory at Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, only Peter Sagan (Bora-hansgrohe) was able to make an exception. Olympic champion Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) alone celebrated four successes with his victories at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, E3 Harelbeke, Gent-Wevelgem and Paris-Roubaix. Philippe Gilbert (Quick-Step Floors) secured the Tour of Flanders and the small round trip Driedaagse De Panne-Koksijde. Straight through Flanders naturally also went to a Belgian: Yves Lampaert (Quick-Step Floors).
3. Not every professional is granted the perfect career end
Every athlete dreams of a perfect finish after a long and successful career. For a professional cyclist, winning a big race would be the best moment to retire. Fabian Cancellara timed that moment perfectly when he won the gold medal on the road at last year's Rio Olympics. The fans of Tom Boonen hoped for something similar for their Tommeke. The cobblestone specialist wanted to retire with a win at his favorite races, the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. In the end it was enough for places 37 and 13. After all, he finished in the top 3 at home in Gent-Wevelgem and E10 Harelbeke in March. He celebrated his last victory on January 24 at the Tour de San Luis. Although he was denied the perfect conclusion, Tom Boonen is undoubtedly one of the most influential drivers of our time.
4. There are no young and old drivers, only good and bad
Football coach Otto Rehhagel has already recognized that age is not decisive for the qualities of an athlete. We can see this at almost every bike race. The young drivers find it particularly difficult in hard and long one-day classics. That's why U25 pilots rarely end up in the top 10. This year Dylan Van Baarle (Cannondale-Drapac) managed to do that for the second time in a row at the Ronde van Vlaanderen with places six and four. At Paris-Roubaix, the upcoming stars were particularly strong this year. Gianni Moscon (Sky) was a 22-year-old in fifth place and Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo) was a 24-year-old in fourth place. Three pilots from the 90s and 91s also ended up in the top 10: Arnaud Demaré (FDJ), Edward Theuns (Trek-Segafredo) and Adrien Petit (Direct Energie).
5. All bad things come in threes: Peter Sagan is unlucky three times
No question: Peter Sagan (Bora-hansgrohe) is one of the best drivers in the world. Not only because he's carrying the world champion's jersey on his shoulders for the second year in a row, but also because he's one of the favorites in so many races. Often the Slovak actually has the edge. However, he often has to stretch them into the wind beforehand because his companions don't want to ride with him. This is what happened recently, for example Milan-Sanremo. Michal Kwiatkowski (Sky) refused to cooperate and then beat Sagan in the sprint for the win.
In a different way, Sagan had bad luck with the Cobblestone Classics. While all good things usually come in threes, Sagan had three bad experiences on the program. Sagan crashed at the semi-classic E3 Harelbeke, he also fell at the Tour of Flanders and twice suffered a defect during an attack at Paris-Roubaix. Even Peter the Great couldn't take it. The fact that one cannot speak of a failed start to the season is all the more impressive. Sagan won three races and finished on the podium nine more times.
6. Sucking on the rear wheel doesn't always lead to success
In addition to many beautiful and tragic stories, there was also a controversy to watch at Paris-Roubaix. In the final kilometers, Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) plowed for his win while Zdenek Stybar (Quick-Step Floors) settled into his luggage rack. This behavior was sharply criticized by some experts while the transmission was still in progress. After the race it was all but forgotten. But how would his victory be judged if Stybar had won? The Czech refused to cooperate in the final kilometers because his captain Tom Boonen was in a group behind him. However, this was so far behind that she no longer had a realistic chance. When asked whether Stybar's behavior was the fine English way, Eurosport commentator Jean-Claude Leclercq answered skillfully evasively "he's not English". Each viewer will certainly judge the situation individually. Nevertheless, it was good for cycling that Van Avermaet won.
7. Too much tactics on the final lap can be expensive
The final phase at Paris-Roubaix was thrilling. BMC set up Van Avermaet's victory perfectly with Daniel Oss, Peter Sagan breaks down at the crucial moment and Zdenek Stybar refuses to cooperate. As if all that wasn't dramatic enough, the top three decided to almost stop on the final lap of the Roubaix Velodrome. The two who were left behind, Gianni Moscon and Jasper Stuyven, were even able to reconnect. However, they no longer had enough strength to sprint along. Stybar lost his nerve first. Van Avermaet jumped on his rear wheel and won.
8. Philippe Gilbert can still win
Who would have expected that? Without a doubt, Philippe Gilbert is one of the most successful drivers of our time. Nevertheless, it had become quiet around him in recent years. In 2014 he won his last major race, the Amstel Gold Race. His time already seemed to be over. But we know: those who have been declared dead live longer! Gilbert switched to Quick-Step Floors prior to this season. Many experts expected him here only as a well-paid and well-known helper. But Gilbert wanted to know again. First he won the small tour Driedaagse De Panne-Koksijde, and then also triumphed at the Ronde van Vlaanderen. He then gave up a start at Paris-Roubaix in order to be in top form at the start of the Ardennes classics. He will be one of the big favorites again here.
9. André Greipel would have earned the red shirt number
The German champion André Greipel (Lotto Soudal) is a classic sprinter. When we talk about a driver from Germany who can win a pavé classic, we often only talk about John Degenkolb (Trek-Segafredo). André Greipel was at the start at Paris-Roubaix for the sixth time. His seventh place was his best result. With a bit more luck, he might even have been able to sprint for victory. However, Greipel will be particularly remembered by the spectators because of his active driving style. Because of his sprint qualities, we hardly see them otherwise. At both the Ronde Van Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix he would certainly have won the red shirt number for the most combative rider – if the races were part of the Tour de France.
10. Peter Sagan is a real winner even as a loser
Even if Peter Sagan is certainly not satisfied with his classic season, he is still one of the winners. This is not only due to his many front positions, but above all to his offensive driving style. The world champion constantly attacked, pushed the pace and wasn't above trying something early. Although he was actually thrown off course by several crashes and breakdowns, he even sprinted for an insignificant 27th place at the Ronde Van Vlaanderen. Another reason why Peter Sagan is so popular with cycling fans is that he keeps showing us how much he loves the sport himself.