The Week

Evidently we took the converse of the weather proverb about March to heart and entered the month more like "a lamb than a lion." But no matter, as we take a look back at what transpired his past weekend before telling you what's "On Tap..." for the weekend of March 8th - 9th.

Giddy Over Gilbert
The creator of the YouTube video below can certainly lay claim to being giddiest over Philippe Gilbert. But after his showing at Omloop Het Volk, perhaps we should all join in the admiration. What was described by some cycling news outlets as "Merckx-ian," Gilbert attacked his competition into submission, and showed us all what it might have been like to stand on the shoulder of cobbled roads to witness the "Cannibal" as he devoured the competition.

And to prove those pundits correct in their assumptions, Gilbert followed with another victory in Belgium at the Memorial Samyn.



A Quick Revenge
To prove that a team could likewise dominate in the style of Eddy Merckx, Quick Step - Innergetic got their revenge at Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne the day after Het Volk. Of the lead group of 35 riders, all of Quick Step sans Paolo Bettini [who was caught up in a crash] made the final selection. With a stacked deck, the Quick Step locomotive delivered Dutchman Steven De Jongh to the line.

Slipstreaming the Cobbles
One of the great stories coming out of the Belgian semi-classics last weekend was the impressive showing by UCI Continental team Slipstream/Chipotle presented by H3O. At Het Volk, Michael Friedman turned in a yeoman's effort, followed by Steven Cozza helping to drive the definitive break at K-B-K. With Magnus Backstedt on the mend and Tyler Farrar coming back from an illness, Slipstream is in a position to more than contend in the jewels of the upcoming Spring Classics.

Nicole Who?
With Nicole Cooke choosing to move on from Cervélo-Lifeforce [fomerly Univega Raleigh Lifeforce] to Team Halfords Bikehut, Lifeforce looked to be in a state of flux without the World's #1 ranked Women's rider. But with the late signing of Kristin Armstrong and cycling manufacturer Cervelo, Lifeforce seemingly hasn't missed a beat.

From the Cervelo website:
"With an awesome final day for the Cervélo-Lifeforce Pro Cycling team finished the "Women’s Tour of New Zealand": Overall victory for the 34-year-old American Kristin Armstrong, Stage victory for Armstrong in the time trial over 7 km, as well the second position in the time trial from Karin Thürig (SUI) and also the third place for Sarah Düster (GER) in the final road race.


Kristin Armstrong showed an excellent performance in the time trial, enlarged her lead ahead of Oenone Wood [High Road Sports] in the overall ranking and defended together with her team-mates from Cervélo Lifeforce the leader position in the 6th and last stage.

"My girls did such a great job today protecting the yellow jersey, and I couldn't have won this Tour of New Zealand without them", said Armstrong after the race.

Kristin Armstrong managed her second stage victory in the time trial race, finishing 10 seconds ahead of her team-mate Karin Thürig. The third place took Oenone Wood, 12 seconds behind of Armstrong.

The 24th place in the sixth and last stage was enough for Armstrong to win the overall ranking, while Ina Yoko Teutenberg [High Road Sports] claimed victory in that stage in the finish sprint ahead of Suzanne de Goede and a sensational racing Sarah Düster."

Aaron's Cycling, Kat Carroll, riding for Team USA claimed the overall points jersey.

Fast Track
While the women of Team High Road were making some noise down in New Zealand, 19-year-old Emilia Fahlin was making her case to be included in their top-tier team.

From the High Road Sports website:
"High Road's youngest rider, Emilia Fahlin took her second victory of the season winning the sprint out of a break of five at the Merced Downtown Grand Prix.

The High Road women were agressive from the start with Anderson staying away solo for the majority of the race. When caught Fahlin countered opening up an immediate gap with one other rider. Eventually Anderson followed an attack bridged to the pair making it four.

In the final laps Mara Abbott also made it across to the break going straight to the front for the final lap. Anderson attacked setting up the sprint for Fahlin. Abbott took third, Anderson fourth and Anke Wichmann won the bunch sprit for fifth place."

And Fahlin repeated the feat a day later at the Merced Road Race.

CycleTo caught up with Emilia after the race.

On the Highbanks
Mark Cavendish was denied a victory earlier on Stage 6 of the Amgen Tour of California, but a return to his old stomping grounds on the pines proved to be the perfect remedy.


From the High Road Sports website:
"With his normal partner, Bradley Wiggins still sick after Tour of California, Mark Cavendish raced the British Madison Championships with a Peter Kennaugh and the pair dominated the 50 km race.

They won the first sprint to set things off and by the end of the race they were two laps clear of their nearest rivals. Cavendish is looking forward to the World Championships coming up."

One place you won't be seeing either Cavendish or Wiggins is at Paris-Nice. Although originally slated to ride the French stage race, neither wants to jeopardize their standing with the UCI and risk any sanctioning that may or may not come down to riders who participate in the race as a result of the UCI's current disputes with the ASO.

Photos: Leonard Basobas (third & fourth)