Norwegian super talent triumphs in the Vanackerestraat.

Flanders has two ProTour competitions : the Tour of Flanders and Gent-Wevelgem.

The First one is world-famous and the other one has an honorary list with names of cyclists which makes every organizer dream.

In spite of the second successive tour victory of Stijn Devolder, most of the attention at the start goes to the Quick Step star Tom Boonen and the British spurt champion Marc Cavendish.

With only 9 degrees Celsius and a sharp south west breeze it feels like winter. Despite the bad weather, there is a good tempo straight from the start.

While the absolute favorite Marc Cavendish has a puncture, a group of 37 cyclists takes a head start. After the puncture of Tom Boonen, the only Quick-Stepper in the leading group, the tour already takes a decisive turn after only 68 km.

The ‘fleers’ with a.o. Robby McEwen, ex-champions Georges Hincapy, Marcus Burghardt and Andreas Klier are able to build up a considerable lead going as far as 4’17”.

After the first pass over Mount Kemmel the Frenchman Cyril Lemoine takes a dozen of cyclists in his attack. These are Koldo Fernandez, Bazayev, Hutarovich, Sutton, Hincapie, Rollin and the couples, Leezer-Tankink, Kuschynski-Quinziato and Goss-Breschel.

A little later they get the company of McEwen who can rejoin them after the descent of the Rodeberg. A big effort for the Australian, in vain, because finally the cyclists in front regroup.

Just before the second climb of the Mount Kemmel, Alexandr Kuschynski escapes.

In the descent Edvald Boasson Hagen succeeds in catching up with the Belarus.

Behind the two ‘fleers’ we find a group of +- 20 cyclists where Hagen’s colleagues of the Columbia High Road Team do everything they can to protect the lead of their teammate.

A counter offensive of Klier, Goss and Hayman arrives too late to threaten the two front cyclists. Each of them thinking they are the strongest they cycle together to the finish.

Finally the young Norwegian starts from far away to keep off a tired Kuschynski quite easily.

Just as Merckx, Boasson Hagen is only 21 when he wins Gent-Wevelgem.

According to our president, Luc Gheysens, it seems the Norwegian cyclist has all the necessary talents to succeed his renowned predecessor.

The future will tell.

Result: 188 participants of which 87 classified.

1) Edvald Boasson Hagen (Noo), 203 km in 5u00’15”, an average of 40 km 566m/h.

2) Aleksandr Kuschynski (WRu)

3) Matthew Goss (Aus) op 53”

4) Mathew Hayman (Aus)

5) Andreas Klier (Dui) op 57”

6) Koldo Fernandez (Spa) op 1’49”

7) Marcus Burghardt (Dui) op 2’14”

8) Thomas Leezer (Ned)

9) Manuel Quinziato (Ita)

10) Jeremy Hunt (GBr)