British Cervelo riders impress in Tour of Flanders

Tour of Flanders 2009 photo gallery, by Graham Watson>>

The Cervelo team again showed they can go head to head with the biggest teams in the peloton, with British riders Roger Hammond, Jeremy Hunt and Daniel Lloyd playing a key role in helping Heinrick Haussler take second place behind Stijn Devolder (Quick Step).

Hammond contested the sprint 59 seconds behind Devolder and just behind team mate Haussler, finishing 13th. Lloyd was 42nd at 5-38, wile Hunt finished 75th at 6-45 in the main field. Steve Cummings (Barloworld) finished 76th in the same time as Hunt.

The news that Thor Hushovd may have broken a finger when he was taken out in the sprint near the line dampened the atmosphere in the team but Hunt and Hammond were rightly proud of the Cervelo team?s performance.

?We were close but we got second again. We?re pretty happy but it?s second again,? Hunt told Cycling Weekly after arriving tired and dirty at the finish.

Hammond was a little happier after getting cleaned up.

?I think we showed we were one of the best teams in the race, especially on the Oude Kwarement. We had everybody in the front except Hayden Roulston who?d crashed,? Hammond explained to Cycling Weekly.

?I think we showed we're really strong. We changed the race twice and if you can do that, it shows you?ve got a strong team.?

?Devolder was head and shoulders above everyone else and when he?d gone we chased for a while and Rabobank chased for a while. The gap was down to ten seconds at one point and we hoped he?d blow on the Muur or the Bosberg but he didn?t, so he deserved to win.?

?It?s been a quiet classics season for me so far because I?ve had some problems with a virus. But hopefully I?m coming back into form just in time for Paris-Roubaix.?

Dan Lloyd heads the day's big break

LLOYD SPARKS KEY BREAK

Dan Lloyd impressed so much by sparking a key tactical break in the final 50km, that he has been asked to stay in Belgium and may replace the injured Thor Hushovd in the Cervelo team for Wednesday?s Ghent-Wevelgem. He was rightly proud to have done ?a ride? in such a big race like the Tour of Flanders.

?It went fast over the Kwaremont and I was well positioned on the Paterberg, so I went for it. A few others came with me they sat up behind, so we got a gap. It was a nice feeling to be at the front of the race like this. Unfortunately I blew when Chavanel attacked but it was good to do a ride for the team and finish.?

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