San Raflaanderrs Results and Report

Lodewick Stamps Authority on Controversial RVSR
Dewars Rider Solos in from 25k While Peloton Strikes in Protest

In the end, there was no doubt. While some questioned the form of Jonas Lodewick after a lackluster Marin-Roubaix performance and a string of mediocre Nikaseeo Kermesse results, his authoritative victory in yesterday's SanRaflaanderrs silenced any remaining questions. With a 25k break in which he rode solo for the last dozen kilometers, Lodewick claimed the second consecutive back-to-back SanRaflaanderrs crown (the last being Markus Clijisters in '10-'11.)

However, another other major story line, was developing simultaneously in the bunch, nearly 9 minutes back. While Hushvod and Lodewick were taking turns figuratively punching each other in the mouth up front, an earnest battle for third place was heating up. In the chase, surprise Marin-Roubaix champion Ravan Moezzerts, MWC stalwart Thibauld Thomas, the redoubtable Clijisters and impressive new comer Jeffe Sterndevaux took turns forcing the pace. Thomas and Sterndevaux repeatedly gapped the rest of the chase on the Bridegberg and Fishberg, while the bike handling prowess of Clijisters and Moezzerts allowed them to take advantage on the descents. 

This pattern repeated itself until the penultimate climb, the Humbleberg where, with a vicious attack, Thomas and Sterndevaux broke clear over the top, only to come to distress on the narrow and very technical descent with an encounter with a spectator's automobile. Thomas managed 

Jeffe Sterndevaux

to slide past by the merest of margins but Sterndevaux was not as lucky, taking the "Starsky and Hutch" route across the hood. Luckily, no major injuries were sustained aside from some cosmetic damage which will no doubt compromise Sterndevaux's post SanRaflaanderrs modeling career. However, the entirety of the peloton chose to strike for the remainder of the course in protest over what they deemed in a post fake-race statement as "overly dangerous and unrealistic fake-racing conditions."

As It Happened
After a combative first hour of fake-racing, Lodewick seized the fake-race by the scruff of the neck on the La Ligne de Sud Marin, leaping clear of the bunch and dragging an opportunistic Ken Hushvod along for company. With all the work being done by Lodewick, Hushvod was none the less indispensible, repeatedly apologizing to frighted and startled spectators as Lodwick rumbled through like an overweight TGV. By the time the duo exited La Ligne, they had an advantage of over 4 minutes and everyone else was fake-racing for the lowest spot on the podium. Hushvod and Lodewick cooperated well on the road to the Fishberg with Lodewick doing the majority of the work and Hushvod, who looked initially to be the stronger of the two, setting a steady pace on the Bridgeberg and Lagoberg.

Approaching the forbidding Fishberg shoulder to shoulder, Hushvod made the first move, riding a strong tempo on the lower slopes that opened of gap of 25 meters on Lodewick. The legions of MWC fans choking the climb were sure they were seeing Hushvod finally fling the Lodewick-monkey from his back but a mere 200m from the summit, cracks began to appear. Lodewick steadily overhauled the suddenly struggling Hushvod, cresting the Fishberg with a 30 second gap. Over the remaining 15km, Lodewick steadily increased his gap, finishing with an advantage of nearly 2 minutes at the finish. Hushvod, looking every bit a beaten man, rode in sweaty and alone for a bitter second place, victory having slipped from his grasp in the space of a mere dozen pedal strokes.