Ronde Repeat - Devolder, Highroad Double Up

Fresh off winning two stages and the overall at the Redlands Bicycle Classic, Ina Teutenberg (Team Columbia - Highroad) sprinted to victory at the 6th Ronde van Vlaanderen Vrouwen this past Sunday.

The 34-year-old German would edge out Kirsten Wild (Cervélo TestTeam) and Emma Johansson (Red Sun) at the line in Ninove to give Team Columbia - Highroad its second consecutive win in the women's version of the Tour of Flanders; teammate Judith Arndt claimed the 2008 title.

Kristin Armstrong (Cervelo TestTeam), who finished second to Arndt last year, was the top American placer finishing 6 seconds back in 18th.

Results
1. Ina Teutenberg (Team Columbia-Highroad)
2. Kirsten Wild (Cervelo TestTeam)
3. Emma Johansson (Red Sun Cycling Team)
4. Nicole Cooke (Vision 1 Racing)
5. Martine Bras (Selle Italia Ghezzi)
6. Marianne Vos (DSB Bank - LTO)
7. Julia Martisova (Gauss RDZ Ormu - Colnago)
8. Noemi Cantele (Bigla Cycling Team)
9. Loes Gunnewijk (Team Flexpoint)
10. Grace Verbeke (Lotto-Belisol Ladiesteam)

In a virtual carbon copy of last year's Ronde van Vlaanderen, Stijn Devolder (Quick Step) would take the 93rd edition of the race in solo fashion. Devolder's timely and relentless attacking would lay waste to a host of favorites including his own teammate, Tom Boonen, who seemed more concerned with former teammate, Filippo Pozzato's (Katusha) chances than his own.

Heinrich Haussler (Cervelo Test Team) would take out the field sprint early to easily claim second place. And though it may seem like a dubious honor, it was Haussler's second runner-up finish in the first two legs of the five monuments of cycling this year. Philippe Gilbert (Silence-Lotto) would round out the podium.

Results
1. Stijn Devolder (Quick Step)
2. Heinrich Haussler (Cervelo Test Team)
3. Philippe Gilbert (Silence-Lotto)
4. Martijn Maaskant (Garmin - Slipstream)
5. Filippo Pozzato (Team Katusha)
6. Matti Breschel (Team Saxo Bank)
7. Marcus Burghardt (Team Columbia - Highroad)
8. Bjorn Leukemans (Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team)
9. Martin Elmiger (AG2R La Mondiale)
10. Bert De Waele (Landbouwkrediet - Colnago)

Photo: © Leonard Basobas