April 11, 2006 – Here are the results of the Scheldeprijs Vlaanderen, a 200K one-day in Belgium:

1 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quickstep-Innergetic 4.31.00 (44.28 km/h)
2 Steven De Jongh (Ned) Quickstep-Innergetic
3 Gert Steegmans (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto
4 Nico Eeckhout (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen
5 Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank
6 Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Liquigas
7 Jens Renders (Bel) Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen
8 Aart Vierhouten (Ned) Skil-Shimano
9 Jeremy Hunt (GBr) Unibet.com
10 René Weissinger (Ger) Skil-Shimano

April 14, 2005 “” Yesterday, the Navigators Insurance Cycling Team took to the start in Antwerp, Belgium for the 93rd running of the Scheldeprijs-Vlaanderen, a UCI “Hors Categorie” event. Lining up with 19 of their favorite competitors, five of them Pro Tour squads, the Navigators team would have their hands full with several team mates still on the mend from illness and injury.

The race is an extremely popular event for the Belgian fans, and this year the appearance of young super-star, Tom Boonen (Quick-Step), gave the fans a little more to cheer about. The 200K race winds itself through the northern reaches of Belgium before returning to Antwerp for two circuits of the city proper and the surrounding area. With two powerhouse Belgium squads chock full of sprinting talent to show off, the race began at a blistering pace, with the first hour of racing taking the riders over 50K. However, that was pretty much the extent of the racing, except for a duo of opportunistic riders.

Thorwald Venenberg (Rabobank) and Tomas Vaitkus (ag2r) left the confines of the field at 55K in preparation for the first set of five sections of pave. That was the last that the field saw of the duo until the award ceremony. Stretching their lead to over 15-minutes with 100K to go, the leaders took advantage of the game of chicken being played out behind. With only 10K left to race, the leaders still held a gap of 7:30 in front of a group of seven chasers that included Boonen. After staying out front for 145K, Venenberg outsprinted Vaitkus to take the top step, while Domina Vacanze’s Simone Cadamuro repeated his third place finish from last year by beating local hero Boonen to the line.

The Navigators Insurance squad now takes a short rest as the team returns to the U.S. for their debut on home soil with the start of the Dodge Tour de Georgia on Tuesday, April 24.

1. Thorwald Venenberg (Rabobank)
2. Tomas Vaitkus (ag2r)
3. Simone Cadamuro (Domina Vacanze)