US POSTAL: "AMAZING" BOONEN THIRD, HINCAPIE SIXTH AT PARIS-ROUBAIX
After near misses the last three years, the United States Postal
Service
Pro Cycling Team finally made the podium at Paris-Roubaix today.
However,
it was the USPS rider who reached the podium that was the biggest
surprise.
First year professional Tom Boonen, just 21-years-old, turned in the
race of
his life in finishing third in the 261 kilometer event while teammate
George
Hincapie placed sixth - his fourth straight top-six finish at the "Hell
of
the North." Yet, no matter what Boonen and Hincapie did along the
muddy
cobble stoned course, neither had an answer for Domo's Johan Museeuw,
who
won his third Paris-Roubaix and the 10th World Cup event of his storied
career.
"We did everything right today," said Johan Bruyneel, the USPS
team's
director sportif. "Everything went right for us except for one
thing...Museeuw was too strong. Nobody was going to beat him today."
Museeuw, the winner of the 1996 and 2000 editions of Paris-Roubaix,
attacked the lead group - one containing Boonen and Hincapie - with
just
over 40 kilometers remaining and rode clear to victory. Boonen, fourth
in
last year's espoir version of Paris-Roubaix, and Hincapie took up the
chase
of Museeuw and dropped the rest of the leaders yet were unable to gain
ground of Museeuw.
"We had two guys working together and he (Museeuw) was still
putting
time on them every 2-3 kilometers," Bruyneel said. "The team did a big
race
today. George had a big race, Tom had a big race, but Museeuw was too
strong, that's all. There is nothing to say, there are no excuses, he
(Museeuw) was the strongest by far."
While riding alongside Boonen in the final 20 kms, Hincapie slipped
of
the road and fell into a ravine, dropping off the pace. He was
eventually
absorbed by a hard charging chase group while Boonen, riding in the
lead
group for nearly the entire race, was caught by Telekom's Steffen
Wesemann
in the final 10 kms and was outsprinted by the German for second place.
"Tom was much better than expected today," Bruyneel said. "As a
first
year pro, he has shown well in the all Classics this year but today was
over
260 kms, it's an impressive result. He needs to keep going and keep
both
his feet on the ground. But for a 21-year-old in his first
Paris-Roubaix,
he was amazing.
"George looked great and he was very comfortable the whole day,"
Bruyneel added. "The only thing I think happened was that when Museeuw
attacked and George saw how strong he was - and that nobody was going
to
have a chance to stay with him - he had a little breakdown mentally,
which I
think is normal. He is disappointed, but I know how difficult it is to
win."
Yet, despite not reaching the top step of the podium, Bruyneel was
pleased with the team's performance, especially after last year's
Paris-Roubaix, when the team was criticized after failing to provide
Hincapie with support in the final stages of the race.
"We had the right guy (Boonen) in the early break and he was able
to sit
on, while the rest of the team worked to keep the break within 2-3
minutes,"
Bruyneel said. "The whole team did a great job on all of the sections
(of
cobblestones), grouping at the front. It was almost always 5-6 USPS
riders
at the front every time. We had a very successful Flemish campaign and
here, especially after what happened last year, was great. All eight
guys
rode great today, they all did an amazing job."
PARIS-ROUBAIX
1. Johan Museeuw, Domo-Farm Frites; 261 kms in 6:39:08
2. Steffen Wesemann, Telekom; at 3:04
3. Tom Boonen, U.S. Postal Service; at 3:08
4. Tristan Hoffman, CSC Tiscali; at 4:02
5. Lars Michaelsen, Coast; s.t.
***
6. George Hincapie, U.S. Postal Service; s.t.
DNF - David Clinger, U.S. Postal Service
DNF - Antonio Cruz, U.S. Postal Service
DNF - Steffen Kjaergaard, U.S. Postal Service
DNF - Floyd Landis, U.S. Postal Service
DNF - Pavel Padrnos, U.S. Postal Service
DNF - Matt White, U.S. Postal Service
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