Gilbert Rides to Timely Victory in Worlds

VALKENBERG, Netherlands – It was an aggressive day of riding from many teams in the 2012 Worlds road race on Sunday, most notably the Spanish, Italian and Belgian teams, setting the stage for an exciting finale in Valkenburg.

Attacking from third wheel on the tenth and final time up the Cauberg, Belgian Philippe Gilbert immediately developed a gap with 2km to go and never looked back, riding into the rainbow jersey for the 2013 cycling season.  Second and third places went to Edvald Boasson Hagen of Norway and Alejandro Valverde (Spain).

The 267km/166mi course in Valkenberg, the Netherlands, included ten laps with a trip up the Cauberg each time.  As riders dropped out and a big crash caused a split in the field, the number remaining to contest the finish was down to half the 200+ starters. The Belgian team had worked tirelessly all race for Gilbert, and in the end he did not disappoint, timing his launch to perfection and riding away with the win in front of huge crowds all along the race course.

RSNT had riders from six countries taking part in the road race:  Chris Horner and Matthew Busche (USA), Greg Rast and Oliver Zaugg (Switzerland), Hayden Roulston and Jesse Sergent (New Zealand), Laurent Didier and Tony Gallopin (France), Jakob Fuglsang (Denmark) and Yaroslav Popovych of Ukraine.  All were proud to represent their counties in the 2012 Worlds.  

Racing continues this week with the Giro del Piemonte on Thursday, as well as the start of the four day Circuit Franco-Belge, plus Il Lombardio on Saturday, won last year by Oliver Zaugg.

radioshacknissantrek.com

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