Road Bike Racing - Gent-Wevelgem final results

1 Mario Cipollini (Ita) Acqua e Sapone 4.42.14 (44.261 km/h)
2 Fred Rodriguez (USA) Domo-Farm Frites
3 George Hincapie (USA) US Postal Service
4 Hendrik Van Dijck (Bel) Collstrop-Palmans
5 Martin Hvastija (Slo) Alessio
6 Robert Hunter (RSA) Mapei-Quick Step 1.29
7 Tom Boonen (Bel) US Postal Service
8 Erik Zabel (Ger) Telekom
9 Tristan Hoffman (Ned) CSC-Tiscali
10 Johan Museeuw (Bel) Domo-Farm Frites
11 Servais Knaven (Ned) Domo-Farm Frites
12 Aart Vierhouten (Ned) Lotto-Adecco
13 Hans De Clercq (Bel) Lotto-Adecco
14 Franck Pencole (Fra) Francaise des Jeux
15 Paul Van Hyfte (Bel) CSC-Tiscali

Supermario gets his third....
sounds like it was a good race. can't wait to see the feeds.

Marty

Way to go Cipo! I tried to get live audio from Eurosport but it was already over. Their stupid audio never seems to work.

I guess Cipo really wanted to hang onto that nice white jersey. Well, he's not doing Roubaix so he'll lose it soon enough. ANd yet another disappointment for Hincapie, but it's hard to beat Cipo- he's the fastest man alive!

I was lucky enough to watch the final 60k on Eurosport.

Cipo did a great race. With some 30k left he brigded the gap (10-15 seconds at the time) into a strong headwind to the other four in the lead group. None of the other in the chasing group managed to go up there with him. Once up there he certainly did his fair share of work in the break. It was apparent that he was the strongest in the group and it was no surprise that he should win once the attacks were over and the sprint started.

/Csson

Cipo is definitely impressing this season. He's showing all the doubters that he is the great sprinter he says he is. It's almost like he read that dig about him in Cycle Sport's sprinter's issue and wants to get back at 'em. I'm very impressed with the man.

Yay Van Dijck! Okay, so he's just some nobody from a regional Belgian second division team, but that makes a top-five finish in a big race like G-W so sweet, he did his job for the sponsor [thake THAT Lotto!]. Reminiscent of Michael van Haecke's ride in last year's Ronde.

Cipo's performance so far this year has blown me away. I had no idea that the "style" poster boy could really produce. Granted, my exposure has been limited... blurbs during TdF coverage, etc., where he rides for the first week, maybe wins a sprint, and bags when they get to the mtns. And the fact that he's doing it at age 35 is awesome.

SuperMario really was super today ! What an easy win for him. He didn´t look exhausted or something like that at all.
And the first time in his career I guess, he left the peloton to chase a leading group on his own and caught it.

Just some mor pics for our friends in the US :
(the leading group)

the podium :

Museeuw and Zabel were beaten :

Cipo said that this was his last spring classis and he wants now to take a break. Then the Giro, the Vuelta and finally the Worldchampionship in Zolder, which he said he will win and most likely and his career...
Big words from a big champion.

Thanks for the pix, Piratello. Is it just me, or does anyone else Acqua & Sapone team gear is hideous? And what do soap and water have to do with zebras?

I don´t know either what Zebras got to do with water and soap...as far as I know it´s an Italian designer thing.
But I find it´s looking quite good.

RoadBuzz,

You think the kit is bad? you should see the absolutely
bizarre Aqua e Sapone team launch complete with topless
women in some weird ritual...
I guess you have to be italian?

Marty

I caught that on cyclingnews. Much better than zebra stripes! ;)

Did armstrong bail out? I didn't see his name on the results.

Too bad cipo won't do Roubaix, but I can understand that. However, amstel gold isn't quite as dengerous- too bad he won't do that either- the last classic of the spring!

Yes, Armstrong left the race at the first food supply. He then went directly to Spain to continue his training.