Weylandt takes Nokere-Koerse; Introducing Euro Peloton

Wauter Weylandt did what many in the cyling world thought he would do yesterday in the Nokere-Koerse Belgian semi-classic, taking a bunch sprint victory for his Quick Step team. Weylandt bested the youngster Jürgen Roelandts of the Silence Lotto team, and Andre "Gorrilla" Greipel of team High Road. It was a great but expected win for the Belgian, who is making a name for himself early in his career as a man to watch in one day races.

Weylandt added to his palmares Tuesday with the Nokere-Koerse win

Roelandts meanwhile showed his class in finishing second to his fellow Belgian Weylandt, giving the cycling public a peek into the future of Belgian cycling. Roelandts is only 22 and should improve greatly in 2008 riding for his first Pro Tour team. He netted the overall victory in last year's U-23 Paris-Tours race, and also won a stage in 2006 at the Tour de Normandy. He'll be a rider to keep an eye on in the future, as he gains experience racing against the world's best bike riders.

Roelandts winning the overall in the U-23 Paris-Tours race

Greipel, although not a winner, flew the flag high for the High Road team, and finished a respectable third. It was a Pro Tour podium sweep as all three spots were occupied by squads belonging to the highest coalition in cycling. It was a good day for cycling and for Belgian fans, as we inch ever closer to the legendary Tour of Flanders.

The "Gorrilla" winning in the Tour Down Under en route to taking the Pro Tour leader's white jersey (better than that horrible High Road black!

Introducing Euro Peloton

For those of you new to the site, welcome to Euro Peloton. Here, every day, you can read up on hot topics in the world of cycling, rider and staff interviews, race previews, recaps and commentaries, and the examination of general happenings in the pro peloton. Written by cycling fans for cycling fans, Euro Peloton strives every day to bring the European cycling world home to American cycling fans. It's like our tag line says: "Unfiltered Perspectives on Professional Cycling."