Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne

Kuurne – Brussels – Kuurne, 194km/120mi
By Cathy Mehl
Don’t line up to race in Belgium in February if you don’t expect the racing to be hard.  That was today’s lesson from Kuurne – Brussels – Kuurne.  Rain, cold temperatures, roundaabouts, slick roads with lots of white paint….it was all part of the action in Sunday’s semi-classic to complete opening race weekend in Belgium.  After yesterday’s bad luck Team RadioShack was mentally prepared to step up and turn things around, but crashes, wind, and flats all played a part in making for a rough day of racing with the best placed team rider Gregory Rast taking 9th place.  Sebastien Rosseler took 14th while the others joined massive abandons from the peloton.  In the biggest win of his career, Bobbie Traskel sprinted in the last 100m from a group of three to capture a huge win for his Vacansoleil team.  Second place went to Rick Flens (Rabobank) and third to a nearly-hypothermic Ian Stannard (Team Sky).