The final award stage of the 2008 early spring classic season
The 96th Scheldeprijs Vlaanderen closes out the first part of the spring classics season, and the cobbled classics in particular. Known as a sprinters fest, recent race winners have been Tom Boonen, Robbie McEwen, and Jeroen Blijlevens. The 2008 edition will feature some old names and new faces as the season's first hillier classic, the Amstel Gold race, awaits in only five day's time.
The Scheldeprijs will give the local Belgian teams one last chance to ride the cobbles with the world's elite, and it will also provide a chance for Tom Boonen to bask in the glow of his recent victory Sunday at Paris-Roubaix. The pressure will finally be off the Belgian, at least for a week, so he'll ride the Scheldeprijs with confidence as he looks forward to a much deserved vacation. Indeed, for many of the riders in the race, the Scheldeprijs will mark the last time they race competitively for a few weeks.
The Scheldeprijs will give the local Belgian teams one last chance to ride the cobbles with the world's elite, and it will also provide a chance for Tom Boonen to bask in the glow of his recent victory Sunday at Paris-Roubaix. The pressure will finally be off the Belgian, at least for a week, so he'll ride the Scheldeprijs with confidence as he looks forward to a much deserved vacation. Indeed, for many of the riders in the race, the Scheldeprijs will mark the last time they race competitively for a few weeks.
The 2007 win (around McEwen) by Cavendish: Fearless Power!
Mark Cavendish leads the list of favorites as the defending champion is on good form and likes the format of the Scheldeprijs course. Boonen, mentioned above, will be around, but the threat from Quick Step is more likely to come from young Wauter Weylandt. Call it a hunch, but Boonen will want to put in some early work before setting it up for his teammate as a thank you for Sunday. Weylandt is more than capable of stepping in, and has already taken a semi-classic with his Nokere-Koerse win back in March.
Other riders in with a good chance at victory include Robbie McEwen of the Lotto-Silence team, who is feeling pressure from the Belgian AND Australian press to win ahead of the grand tours. McEwen has made the Scheldeprijs a target for his early season, and he'll try not to get boxed in on Wednesday. Other Aussie sprinters on hand will be Graeme Brown, always capable in a bunch sprint, and Baden Cooke, who has yet to do much for his new team Barloworld. Andre Korff, the former T-Mobile rider now riding for Volksbank, can handle a bunch gallop, and the "Original Meatball," Salvatore Commesso, when in shape, is a fast finisher. Problem is he hasn't been in shape recently.
Other riders in with a good chance at victory include Robbie McEwen of the Lotto-Silence team, who is feeling pressure from the Belgian AND Australian press to win ahead of the grand tours. McEwen has made the Scheldeprijs a target for his early season, and he'll try not to get boxed in on Wednesday. Other Aussie sprinters on hand will be Graeme Brown, always capable in a bunch sprint, and Baden Cooke, who has yet to do much for his new team Barloworld. Andre Korff, the former T-Mobile rider now riding for Volksbank, can handle a bunch gallop, and the "Original Meatball," Salvatore Commesso, when in shape, is a fast finisher. Problem is he hasn't been in shape recently.
The "Original Meatball," Salvatore Commesso
The Scheldeprijs Vlaanderen: one last chance to see the early season champions before welcoming the more climbing-oriented riders of the late spring monuments to race day. So long Lion of Flanders, hello Ardennes mountains!
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