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							                                                 Gullegem Koerse.
This race consisted of a 9km circuit around the town of Gullegem. It was flat with a minor breeze
blowing through several sections of the race. Of greater interest was the line up of quality riders that
included some ofthe all-stars of Garmin, Quickstep, Vacansoliel, Rabobank, HTC-Colombia, Katusha,
Accqua Sappone and a thorough contingent of continental teams from around Belgium that together
totaled over 220 riders.

This format of racing is known as the ‘pro-kermises’ in Belgium, with about 8 of these races scheduled
throughout the year. The Marco Polo team had several Dutch riders and a new addition to the team in
an Eritrien rider from east Africa. Also in the lineup was the two times ex Dutch road champion Leon
Von Bon. My first year racing in Belgium was about 5 years ago and I recall watching Leon hit the
peloton in the final stages of the race to solo to victory by holding off a fast chasing peloton. What an
incredible feat of strength I thought at the time. Now here I am with the honor of riding alongside a
champion rider that’s efforts includes victories in the Tour de France, and top 5’s in Paris Roubaix etc.

The 175km race was underway at a furious pace. Immediately I notice that even sitting in the peloton
my heart rate was at 80% of my maximum; incredible intensity! I was located around two thirds of the
length of the peloton with little opportunity to move forward. The problem being located here is the
amount of breaking one has to apply around a corner and the increased acceleration I have to find in
order to stay in contact with the turmoil at the front of the group.

Needless to say both Ben King and an English friend James Spragg put in a good show. Ben managed to
get into the first move that went and was brought back, with James narrowly missing the second and
final move that our rider Leon managed to make. Ben looks about 5kg’s lighter from his season thus far
and is going like a diesel engine; Impressive. James is also trucking along nicely and clearly showed the
form that has allowed him to finish the 2.HC tour of Belgium and several other big races.

Once the move went clear the pace backed off slightly and we were destined to follow the breakaway
around the circuit albeit 2min’s in arrears. It still didn’t stop many of the riders from contesting a sprint
finish for 18th; however my training goal had been achieved as I was content on getting the racing
intensity in and finishing the race. An average of between 45-46km/hr accurately reflected the day’s
intensity. A great day out with the first goal of finishing achieved. I have a big tour in France next week,
so I will be doing more of the smaller races as a lead up to this tour, the goal of a stage result is the aim
for that tour, but I still have four months remaining here in Europe and the real form is probably 1-
2months away yet. The results from yesterday’s race are below. Thanks for your time in reading this.
Cheers, B.

Results


1.Wouter Weylandt (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic                                                           3:43:46
2.Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto



3.Arnoud Van Groen (Ned) Vacansoleil



4.Jurgen Francois (Bel) Palmans Cras



5.Frédéric Amorison (Bel) Landbouwkrediet                          0:00:10



6.Leon Van Bon (Ned) Marco Polo Cycling Team                       0:00:22



7.Gorik Gardeyn (Bel) Vacansoleil                                  0:00:37



8.Maxim Debusschere (Bel) An Post-MDonnelly-Grant Thornton - S..



9.Michael Van Staeyen (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator



10.Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto



11.James Vanlandschoot (Bel) Willems Verandas



12.Benjamin Verraes (Bel) Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht



13.Nico Kuypers (Bel) Wc Soenens-germond Ingelmunster



14.Tom Devriendt (Bel) New Heebra-lombarden



15.Gediminas Kaupas (Ltu)



16.Thomas Chamon (Bel) Dunkerque Littoral Cyclisme



17.Kevin Van Impe (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic
18.Stijn Nauwynck (Bel) New Heebra-lombarden



19.Jurgen Van De Walle (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic    0:00:48



20.Aidis Kruopis (Ltu) Palmans Cras                    0:01:11



21.Aleksejs Saramotins (Lat) Team HTC - Columbia



22.Andy Cappelle (Bel) Willems Verandas



23.Thomas Palmer (Aus) Drapac - Porsche Cycling



24.Philip Vandaele (Bel)



25.Kevin Claeys (Bel) Pws Eijssen Cycling Team



26.Michael Phelan (Aus) Drapac - Porsche Cycling



27.Tommy Nankervis (Aus) Dunkerque Littoral Cyclisme



28.Timothy Stevens (Bel) Pws Eijssen Cycling Team



29.Tim Mertens (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator



30.Niels Reynvoet (Bel) Cyclingteam Davo - LOtto



31Tom Vermeiren (Bel)



32Gregory Habeaux (Bel) Willems Verandas



33Ben Berden (Bel) Qin Cycling Team
34Sven Van Den Houte (Bel) Willems Verandas



35Joeri Calleeuw (Bel) Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht



36Huub Duyn (Ned) Team Netapp



37Jens Vandenbussche (Bel) New Heebra-lombarden



38Martial Ricci Poggi (Bel) Landbouwkrediet



39Jelle Mannaerts (Bel) Cyclingteam Davo - LOtto



40Stijn Mettepenningen (Bel) Wc Soenens-germond Ingelmunster



41Tom Vanbecelaere (Bel) Palmans Cras



42Ludovic Mottet (Bel)



43Sander Verhaeghe (Bel) New Heebra-lombarden



44Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Bel) Beveren 2000



45Jan Kuyckx (Bel) Qin Cycling Team



46Gilles Devillers (Bel) Lotto - Bodysol - Pôle Continental Wal..



47Jonathan Breyne (Bel) Qin Cycling Team



48Stijn Neirynck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator



49Christophe Brandt (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto
50Jérôme Gilbert (Bel)



51Dieter Cappelle (Bel) Willems Verandas



52Sjef De Wilde (Bel) Willems Verandas



53Gijs Van Hoecke (Bel) Beveren 2000



54Philippe Legrand (Fra) Royal Cyclists Pesant Club Liegeois



55Sven Neckebroeck (Bel)



56Sylvain Rolet (Bel) Wielerteam Decock – Sportivo



57Sven Nooytens (Bel) Beveren 2000



58Michael England (Aus) Profel Prorace Cycling Team



59Sjoerd Kouwenhoven (Ned) Van Vliet - EBH Elshof



60Stijn Joseph (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator



61Thomas Sprengers (Bel) Beveren 2000



62Clinton Avery (NZl) Pws Eijssen Cycling Team



63Kurt Hovelijnck (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic



64Tyler Farrar (USA) Team Garmin - Transitions



65Jonas Decouttere (Bel)
66Muhamad Adiq Husaine Othman (Mas) Drapac - Porsche Cycling



67Frederik Veuchelen (Bel) Vacansoleil



68Wouter Mol (Ned) Vacansoleil



69Rasmus Guldhammer (Den) Team HTC - Columbia



70Joeri Bueken (Bel) Profel Prorace Cycling Team



71Maarten De Jonge (Ned) Cyclingteam Jo Piels



72Gert Dockx (Bel) Team HTC - Columbia



73Peter Ronsse (Bel)



74Joris Wagemans (Bel) Cyclingteam Davo - LOtto



75Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto



76Davy De Scheemaeker (Bel) Pws Eijssen Cycling Team



77Jarno Vanguyse (Bel) New Heebra-lombarden



78Maarten Neyens (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator



79Jan Ghyselinck (Bel) Team HTC - Columbia



80Kristof Zegers (Bel)



81Gianni Denolf (Bel) Bkcp-powerplus
82Frederik Vandewiele (Bel) New Heebra-lombarden



83Sven De Meydts (Bel) Wielerteam Decock – Sportivo



84Kenneth Verhoeven (Bel) Profel Prorace Cycling Team



85Bart Van Damme (Bel)



86Brad Hall (Aus) Marco Polo Cycling Team



87Simone Masciarelli (Ita) Acqua E Sapone



88Floris Smeyers (Bel) Pws Eijssen Cycling Team



89Thomas Kvist (Den) Quickstep - Innergetic



90Joop De Gans (Ned) Palmans Cras



91Angus Morton (Aus) Drapac - Porsche Cycling



92James Spragg (GBr) Qin Cycling Team



93Alphonse Vermote (Bel) Beveren 2000



94Nikolas Maes (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic



95Jarl Salomein (Bel) Beveren 2000



96Kevin De Weert (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic



97Ritchie Denolf (Bel)
98Geert Steurs (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator



99Preben Van Hecke (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator



100Stijn Mortelmans (Bel) Palmans Cras



10Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel) Katusha



102Nick Nuyens (Bel) Rabobank ProTeam



103Benjamin King (USA) Trek - Livestrong Presented By Radiosh..



104Adrien Vandermeersch (Fra) Dunkerque Littoral Cyclisme



105Jeroen Socquet (Bel)



106Kenny Dehaes (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto



107Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Rabobank ProTeam



108Michel Kreder (Ned) Team Garmin - Transitions



109Adam Blythe (GBr) Omega Pharma-Lotto



110Steven Lapere (Bel) Wielerteam Decock – Sportivo



111Clement Lhotellerie (Fra) Roubaix-Dalkia



112Thierry Declercq (Bel) Wielerteam Decock – Sportivo



113Sander Helven (Bel) Cyclingteam Davo - LOtto
114Tom Stubbe (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto



115Joseph Gregory (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator



116Nick Van Humbeeck (Bel)



117Tom Goovaerts (Bel)



118Stijn Devolder (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic



119Baptiste Planckaert (Bel) Landbouwkrediet



120Steve Bekaert (Bel) Beveren 2000



121Steven Van Vooren (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator



122Hans Dekkers (Ned) Landbouwkrediet



123Dries Devenyns (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic



124Jeroen Hoorne (Bel) Wc Soenens-germond Ingelmunster



125Ruben De Marez (Bel) Wc Soenens-germond Ingelmunster



126Pieter Vanspeybrouck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator



127Jean Zen (Fra) Palmans Cras



128Tom Criel (Bel)



129Kristof Vandewalle (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator
130Bastien Delrot (Fra) Team Netapp



131Benjamin Gourgue (Bel) Landbouwkrediet



132Kenny Lisabeth (Bel) An Post-MDonnelly-Grant Thornton - S..



133Kevin Hulsmans (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic



134Shane Braley (GBr)                                            0:05:45



135Bart Verschueren (Bel)