Marin-Roubaix Results and Report

First Timer Moezzertens Wins Controversial MR After Hushvod DQ'd.

It isn't often that an up and comer surprises the grizzled veteran hardmen of SanRaflaanderrs on the rough windswept roads of Marin-Roubaix but with a badgerlike tenacity and a surprise late move, Ravan Moezzertens has done just that. 

It was not a win without (the now seemingly obligatory  controversy though as many in attendance thought local hero Ken "The Hedgehog" Hushvod rode alone into the stadium at L'Ecole d'San Rafaaeel and celebrated a seemingly dominant win over the bunch. Official review of the replay showed, however, that Hushvod, who on the lead into the finale on Route d' Jewell cut the course and vaulted himself from a distant 5th wheel up to 10 seconds in front of the leaders. Moezzertens alone recognized the situation and with an early jump past a stunned Jonas Lodewick, Thibauld Thomas and Markus Clijisters was able to hold off a desperate Lodewick charge for the line while ahead an oblivious Hushvod celebrated his empty, soon to be vacated victory.

As It Happened
Rides rolled out under clear but windy skies and covered the 55km to Pau Clouf in a very brisk first hour. Regardless, all the contenders were together at the entrance to Pointe Camp Chinois. The high pace continued and the group started to fracture in the technical byways of Cirqure du Camp Chinois where Hushvod, seeing a gap accelerated hard and was away on his own. Clijisters, Moezzertens and Thomas gave chase while a disgruntled Lodewick held back with a group containing Helene Drümme and Stijn Cherry while R.A. vonSchmidt was left to plow a lone furrow, his Lantern Rouge preparation seemingly spot on.

Hushvod managed to maintain a 20 second gap over the chasers through l'Arivee d'Bucks and onto the Levee Santa Venetia. Lodewick, awoken from his slumber, made a determined charge through the groups on the road to regain contact with Hushvod as they entered the Suites du Embassee sector at which point, Hushvod immediately sat up. The pace was high though the punishing trench of Railroad d'Arenberg but the real fireworks were lit when Clijisters put in a blistering attack on Los Ranchitos to force the final selection. 

Rolling into the stadium at L'Ecole d'San Rafaaeel the front pairing of Lodewick and Clijisters were taken aback to find Hushvod a half lap ahead and on his way to celebrting victory. Moezzertens was the first to take advantage with an early jump in the backstretch to gain a gap he held to the finish. A visibly exhausted Lodewick took second with a resilient Thomas rounding out the podium. Clijisters rolled in just behind for a disappointing fourth with Drümme and Cherry arriving shortly thereafter for fifth and sixth with vonSchmidt protecting his Lantern Rouge crown. A tearful and enraged Hushvod was relegated to last place despite his vows to protest the commissares decision.