Mattan’s ultimate dream comes true.

At the Grand Place in Deinze, 194 race cyclists come to sign the start list of this race which has been promoted to ProTour.
In the Moëres, traditionally considered as a crucial location in Ghent-Wevelgem, the typical echelons of the Westhoek are formed and a leading group of 29 cyclists pulls away.
After having passed Mount Kemmel for the first time, Flecha and Boonen speed up and the breakaway group is reduced to 20 cyclists.
T-Mobile and Phonak try to resolve the situation.
During the second pass of the Kemmelberg, the breakaway led by Flecha now counts 8 cyclists: Flecha, Cancellara, Cooke, Backstedt, Bennati, Mattan, Hushovd and Pozzato.
Especially the Fasso-Bortolo duo, Flecha and Cancellara, make sure that the pursuers do not approach one metre.
When entering Menin, it starts drizzling slightly and the breakaway is now only 18’’ ahead of the peloton.
At 8 km from the finish, Mattan breaks away two times.
Flecha counterattacks.
A first Spanish victory is in sight but in the last hectometres, the exhausted Spaniard is outstripped by Mattan who has been helped or not by following cars and motorbikes.
However, the initial soon has to give way to a discussion about the confused final which would drag on for weeks.
Nevertheless, the result remained the same.

RESULT: 194 participants of whom 80 are qualified

1)    Nico Mattan, 208 km in 4h 53’ 7’’, an average of 42 km 577 m/h
2)    Juan Antonio Flecha (ESP) at 2’’
3)    Daniele Bennati (ITA) at 9’’
4)    Fabian Cancellara (SWI)
5)    Thor Hushovd (NOR)
6)    Baden Cooke (AUS) at 16’’
7)    Tom Steels at 18’’
8)    Simone Cadamuro (ITA)
9)    Erik Zabel (GER)
10)  Stuart O’Grady (AUS)

© Rudy Neve 2006