Ian Stannard (Sky) defied the odds to win Saturday's opening semi-classic, the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in Belgium.
Stannard had found himself in a hostile situation, surrounded by three Etixx-QuickStep riders in a four-man escape group in the race's final 20 kilometres. Stannard couldn't have had worse company given the Classics pedigree of his companions: Tom Boonen, Niki Terpstra and Stijn Vandenbergh.
Initially, Stannard sat near the back of the group, letting Etixx do all the work to create distance between themselves and a small chase unit containing Sep Vanmarcke (LottoNL-Jumbo), who had punctured earlier.
Although the Etixx riders took it in turn to attack Stannard, with the British rider notably chasing down a strong move by Boonen. Rather than wait for more attacks, it was Stannard himself who accelerated into the final three kilometres dropping all but Terpstra.
Stannard then got the better of Paris-Roubaix champion Terpstra in the sprint to the line.
-
-
Leaked contract shows Manuela Fundación tried to buy Mitchelton-Scott for €7 million
The failed takeover of the Australian squad, now called Team BikeExchange, caused confusion in June last year
By Jonny Long •
-
'I hope he doesn't think I'm some fanatic weirdo': Man fulfils promise to get Mark Cavendish tattoo if he won another race
Paul James has paid homage to the sprinter's comeback with a tattoo of the Tour de France green jersey winner
By Jonny Long •
-
Trek-Segafredo back to winning ways as Ruth Winder takes Brabantse Pijl
US national champion Ruth Winder won the tightest of sprints at Brabantse Pijl on Wednesday (April 14).
By Owen Rogers •
-
Lorena Wiebes wins in a bunch sprint at a wind ravaged women's Scheldeprijs
Team DSM win the battle of the lead outs after a scrappy final in the Belgian wind and rain
By Owen Rogers •
-
Groupama-FDJ pull out of Scheldeprijs 2021 after Covid-19 positive
Groupama-FDJ have had to pull out from racing at the Belgian one-day race of Scheldeprijs due to a positive Coronavirus test within the team
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
Annemiek van Vleuten wins the Tour of Flanders with a signature long range move
Annemiek van Vleuten won the Tour of Flanders for the second time with a signature attack on Sunday.
By Owen Rogers •
-
Tour of Flanders 2021 start lists
Full list of riders taking part in the 2019 edition on Sunday, April 7
By Jonny Long •
-
'Risk big and you win big,' Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig willing to risk all at the Tour of Flanders
After finishing third in 2019 the Danish rider has a stronger team than ever to help achieve a first WorldTour win
By Owen Rogers •
-
Tim Merlier: 'Mathieu van der Poel came to us and said he was not good, I thought he was joking'
Van der Poel lost touch with the main favourites group of the Knokteberg in the final 30km and drifted back to the peloton
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
Dylan van Baarle puts in impressive solo ride to win Dwars door Vlaanderen 2021
Dylan van Baarle came out on top at Dwars Door Vlaanderen 2021 after going on a long-range solo effort with around 50km to go
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
