Boonen's Charity Event

Boonen returns for charity cyclo-cross race

(http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/boonen-returns-for-charity-cyclo-cross-race)

Tom Boonen will once again host the charity cyclo-cross race "Boonen & Friends" at the Zilvermeer in Mol, Belgium this Saturday. The event benefits "Move to Improve", a charity for children with movement disorders. Joining the Quick Step sprinter will be former cyclo-cross world champion Lars Boom who will be given a one-minute handicap to the star-studded field of road professionals.

Boom will be up against a field of 48 riders which includes, among others, former winners Maarten Wynants and Pieter Vanspeybrouck as well as current professionals André Greipel, Jelle Vanendert, Giovanni Visconti, Carlos Barredo, Björn Leukemans, Marco Bandiera and Christian Knees.

In the race for retired pros, another former world champion, Erwin Vervecken, will try to defend his title of last year against the likes of Johan Museeuw, Davide Bramati, Eric Vanderaerden, Jo Planckaert and Marc Wauters.

The race is sure to provide even Boom and Vervecken with challenges on a course which Boonen called one of the hardest yet. "Even for a cyclo-crosser the circuit is technically challenging."

Boonen is looking forward to racing for the first time since he crashed out of the Vuelta a España with a broken wrist.
""My wrist is almost healed. I only suffer when I have to ride a long descent."

After a series of community races, the ex-professionals will take to the start at 2pm, with Boonen and friends going off at 3:15.

2011 Tour de France, Stage 10

Today’s stage is 158km and it takes the riders from Aurillac to Carmaux. There are 4 categorized climbs today, two category 3 climbs and two category 4 climbs. The riders had a rude awakening today, a hailstorm to ride through!

Two less riders took the start today: Popovych abandoned due to a fever he couldn’t shake and Kolobnev is our first rider in this Tour who has tested positive for doping.

After just 16km of racing, we have our first crash: Cancellara, Leipheimer, Leukemans and Galland were all involved, but everyone got back on their bikes.

The breakaway at the day was formed at 16.5km: Di Gregorio, Vichot, Minard, El Fares, Marcato, and Delaplace. The best placed rider here is El Fares, but he is more than 15 minutes behind the Yellow. At about 80km to go, the attackers had a maximum lead time of 3’47”.

At a very early intermediate sprint, Vichot was able to attack and takes the most sprint points, with Cavendish taking the peloton over the line.

At the first climb, a category 4, Marcato got 2 KOM points, while Delaplace grabs the remaining 1 KOM point. At the 2nd climb, a category 4, Marcato again takes the lead, but only gets 1 KOM point this time. Third climb of the day also Gave Marcato 2 KOM points.

When the gap got under 50” at about 20 km to go, Marcato and Minard took off on their own. They were soon followed by Vichot. Less than 4km later, Minard and Vichot shake hands as they are swallowed up by the peloton. Marcato tries solo for the last KOM point. He was caught too soon and Gallopin, Gilbert, Voeckler, Martin, and Devenyns go for the point. It is Voeckler who crosses first. Everyone was caught before the sprint finish.

Griepel and Cavendish both claim the win, but it was in fact Griepel who took it for his first stage win.

Stage 10 Results:
1 André Greipel
2 Mark Cavendish
3 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil
4 Thor Hushovd
5 Romain Feillu
6 Daniel Oss
7 Sébastien Hinault
8 Borut Bozic
9 Geraint Thomas
10 Samuel Dumoulin