Did Steegmans get a b*ll*cking

powenb

Do you think Gert Steegmans would have got an earful after nicking the win from Bonnen?
Surely from Boonen if noone else.

John Stevenson

It seems not:

http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/n ... onen-11502

Echappee

Boonen disguised it well if it was a gift. It looked to me as if he simply didn't have the legs to come around Steegmans

powenb

Steegmans in the intereview said it was perfect.
Just not sure if Boonen saw it that way :evil:

Stark.

If you take Steegman's post-race interview at face value, it seems that everything went so well that Tom gifted the race to him. That seems pretty generous given that stage wins are damn hard to come by, even for someone as talented as Boonen. Either he's super-confident of picking up more wins in the fext few days, or maybe he just didn't have the power to get his wheel in front.

Monty Dog

It seemed as though Boonen didn't have the power on the uphill to come through - what if Steegmans had eased off and the stage had gone to another team? Regardless, it's a victory for the team which they'll be happy about. The repercussions from the crash and the pace of the QS team meant the other teams could make little progress, so bodes well for Tom in todays stage perhaps?

Eurostar

It's very hard to read what's going on. If Boonen simply didn't have the legs his form must be poor. It's not as if he'd done much work up to that point. Plus he's had an indifferent season, and he couldn't get anywhere near McEwen in Canterbury. Seems to me that we might just see Boonen being the lead-out man for Steegmans, who is obviously faster.

mangaman

With Boonen's form dipping this year I think he really wanted to win this stage

No way would he gift it as thanks for help at Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kurne!

I would have thought this stage was one of Tom's biggest targets of the year

I thought he was celebrating as he assumed he'd won, then realised that Steegmans hadn't slowed up
I don't know the etiquette in a sprinter's train I'll admit.
Surely you'd expect your lead-out man to slow down once he's dragged you clear of the field??

Even if Tom was not the strongest in that sprint then he still should have been allowed to win for the good of the team. Imagine if Boonen loses the Green jersey by a point in Paris

In the long term Boonen is still the star of the team and the better bet for the Points jersey overall

ricadus

Stegemans is just putting himself in the shop window; maybe he'll be riding for Milram or some other team in need of a sprinter next year.

drenkrom

I've watched the replay many times and there's no way Boonen looked each side and decided to back off, as he stated in post-race interviews. He's going full-pelt right up to the line, looking straight ahead. I've rarely seen Boonen all over his bike like that. He was really pushing it hard. On the other hand, you clearly see Steegmans looking back a few times.

I remember reading a comment from Allan Peiper about Quickstep hiring "riders" from Lotto that were more interested in their beer and party than their racing (that would be Van Petegem, it seems), and the adverse effect he could see coming in QuickStep's results. I don't know if he got the cause right, but the results sure do support his theory.

timoid.

Boonen was giving it his all, it just wasn't his day. As far as I know, a lead out man isn't supposed to break. The number one priority is the team victory and the slingshot effect should give his boss an easy way round him.

To be fair to Boonen, he did seem genuinely happy for Steegmans.

Haynes

Anyone know what the press in Belgium had to say, did Boonen get a kicking?

powenb

At the moment, Boonen doesn't look sharp at all.
He finished behind Steegmand again.

jimmythecuckoo

If he had concentrated on getting past Steeeeeegmans instead of waving his arm at him he might have done a bit better.

powenb

Got to be a problem in the ranks there.
Steegman was definately sprinting for the line himself.

floatman

Boonen did appear genuinely happy for Steegman after the stage but I don't think it was a gift - Boonen was definitely giving his all - it just wasn't enough. Am I right in thinking he hasn't won a stage since 2005 now?

OffTheBackAdam

Steegman certainly looked happier than Boonen, I think "words" were probably had after stage 3, he didn't look at all happy, crossing the line gesticulating and someone behind him!
Still, got his stage (6) and a fetching green jersey (Any bets on Zabel reclaiming that with his superior climbing ability?)