Road Cycling - Best Belgium based team?

Omloop Het Volk seemed to answer that question in impressive fashion. Robbie McEwen managed a tenth for the top Lotto-Domo finish.

1 Johan Museeuw (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon 4.55.31
2 Max Van Heeswijk (Ned) US Postal 0.15
3 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step-Davitamon
4 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon 1.30
5 Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Quick Step-Davitamon

Great day for Van Heeswijk.

The question is: Can so many stars continue to ride together without this becoming a soap opera?

I would say that they will be fine as long as they support the right horses on the right courses, but the fact is, a number of these guys can win the same races, such as the Ronde.

Thoughts? :confused:

Well... the only star I see is actually Musseeuw. Boonen is still young and has a lot to learn. He fits nicely in. Bettini is a wannabe. Vandenbroucke had talent at one time, and this is probably as good as it gets.

I forgot to mention McEwen. His purpose in life is the green yersey and some stages in the Tour.

Originally posted by green lion
Boonen is still young and has a lot to learn. He fits nicely in. Bettini is a wannabe.

The learning curve is moving mighty fast for young Tom Boonen. Already on the podium at Paris-Roubaix.

Bettini won the World Cup last year, beating a highly motivated Museeuw. He is a star in every way.

I won't defend VDB because I don't trust him farther than I can spit.

As for Mcewen...he has talked of a desire to win Milan-San Remo, which is now only a few weeks away. Perhaps the knee injury has dampened that dream. I have to imagine, regardless of how he does in that event, his eyes are growing larger than to just covet the green jersey.

Originally posted by green lion
Bettini is a wannabe.
:confused:
About 95% of the rest of the peloton would like to do as well as Bettini!

Of course they can get along without it becoming a soap opera. Big Yohan got the nod for the win amongst the trio this time. It was a decision made. Bettini knows all about infighting so I think he would avoid it again at all costs. There is room for success for all the Quick Step stars.
As for VDB, he is a big star. He is a huge talent. Those aren't opinions. Those are facts.
Boonen is like other good riders. He promises alot, but we'll see if he can deliver. Alot of pressure on the guy. Remember JF Bernard (la vie claire), or Rolf Sorensen (who was unstoppable early in his pro career).
Bettini is no pretender in any way. He is a great rider that wins with brains and skill. He realizes his strengths and weaknesses. He doesn't win with the class of a Musseuw but so what. He is the World Cup winner and has won many big races. Bettini is a star in cycling.

If anyone is the pretender, it's Boonen since he doesn't have the palmares of the others.

Bettini is one of the riders I respect most in the pro peloton. He is an excellent rider, a proven winner, and willing to work for his teammates. If he is a wannabe we must be defining the term quite differently.

Uh oh! Van Heeswijk will probably be moving next year if he keeps this up! I wonder how he looks in orange and blue?

This team will be tough to beat. The leaders, though ambitious as individuals, seem to have genuine respect for one another and realistic grasps on their personal strengths. They seem to be willing to share the races and work for the person with the best chance in each race. The only possible exception being Milan-San Remo which both Museeuw and Bettini want badly to win.

Well,

we can debate whether Boonen is a star or not, based on our definitions of the term...but:

The new Cycle Sport magazine has the cover story:

Tom Boonen
Belgian Superstar!

Superstar seems really strong for me.

Originally posted by easyrider
Tom Boonen
Belgian Superstar!

Superstar seems really strong for me.
Me too. He's got a lot to prove.

But I'm a Yank, and have a bias. He learned the ropes on Postal's dime (we've only got one team that races in Europe, fer cryin' out loud), and he jumps ship just when he's ready to start delivering.

Getting back to Bettini, et.al., Quick Step really looks like they have a line-up for the classics. But, somehow, after losing Mapei, the jerseys and paint schemes just aren't as cool. Hey! I'm just sayin'! ;)