OVERIJSE, Belgium, April 13, 2011 – Belgian Philippe Gilbert, of
Omega Pharma, gave up and coming countryman Bjorn Leukemans a lesson in uphill
sprinting on his way to victory in the Fleche Brabanconne semi-classic on
Wednesday.

Frenchman Anthony Geslin took third place in the race — also known as
Brabantse Pijl to Flemish-speaking Belgians — after dominating a three-man
group which came in around 30 seconds adrift.

Gilbert followed an attack by Leukemans when he pulled away from a
seven-man group on the 30th and penultimate berg (climb) around 14km from the
finish.
The pair built a comfortable lead of around 50secs and collaborated until
the closing kilometers, when discussions between the pair ensued.

When asked what they had been talking about, Gilbert later explained: “We
agreed to collaborate until the finish and to sprint each other for the win.
It was a case of ‘let the best man win’.”

Leukemans, however, neglected Gilbert’s efficiency on uphill finishes.

When he put in a burst of speed inside the final kilometer it was all too
brief, and had little effect. Gilbert pulled level, dropped down a gear and
passed his compatriot with ease before the finish.

He added: “Bjorn deserved to win just as much as me. He was impressive, but
he’s not as fast as me in a sprint.”

Gilbert’s victory comes three days before he saddles up to defend his title
at the Amstel Gold Race, held over 260.4 km and whose climbs exact a far
bigger toll on the peloton.

Now based in Monaco, the Belgian did not race Paris-Roubaix last weekend,
preferring train in the south of France to hone his form for Sunday’s Amstel,
the first of the three ‘Ardennes Classics’.

Following Amstel, the peloton will tackle the hilly Fleche Wallonne next
Wednesday before lining up for the final spring classic at
Liege-Bastogne-Liege on April 24.

Defending race champion Sebastien Rosseler of RadioShack pulled out prior
to the start Wednesday due to stomach problems.

Results from the Fleche Brabanconne semi-classic held over 200.4 km Wednesday:

1. Philippe Gilbert (BEL) Omega-Pharma 4hr 40min 38sec, 2. Bjorn Leukemans
(BEL) same time, 3. Anthony Geslin (FRA) at 1min 03sec, 4. Johnny Hoogerland
(NED) s.t., 5. Bram Tankink (NED) 1:04, 6. Dries Devenyns (BEL) 1:18, 7.
Romain Zingle (BEL) 1:23, 8. Gianni Meersman (BEL) 1:39, 9. Jerome Pineau
(FRA) 1:41, 10. Simon Geschke (GER) 2:19
Selected: 11. Oscar Freire (ESP) s.t., 17. Wesley Sulzberger (AUS) s.t.

Article: AFP
Photo: Corvos