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 Two out of two
Danilo Di Luca wins ahead of Kim Kirchen and Davide Rebellin after a race that saw Jens Voigt take off for a long but vain breakaway.
11h05, Stade du Pays of Charleroi. The peloton took off for fast first kilometres under a grey sky. Attacks occurred without anyone however managing a consistent break before kilometre 15. Finot (fdj) then decided to take off and saw his lead grow to 30”. Without really moving closer, the pack kept control of the early breakaway. But at kilometre 37, Peeters (JAC) counter attacked, rapidly joined by Van de Wouwer (MRB) and Kaisen (RAG). The three men were only 13” adrift at kilometre 50. In the leading positions of the bunch, Poilvet (CA) tried to counter attack but was quickly caught back. At kilometre 52, he again tried to break clear but was this time helped out by Bramati (QSD) and Voigt (CSC). All three managed to catch up with Peeters, Van de Wouwer and Kaisen before eventually catching Finot at kilometre 55. The seven bunched riders started working together and kept clear from a peloton led by Bessy (Cof). Five kilometres before the first passage at the top of the Mur de Huy, the race became tougher with quite a few attacks in the leading positions. At the bottom of the climb, the peloton remained 2’45’’ behind, while, Van de Wouwer led the front group and made it first at the top of the climb (km 65,5) ahead of Voigt and Poilvet.
 In the downhill portion, the escapees increased their lead that was of 3’10’’ at kilometre 70, in the village of Modave. The gap remained the same until the Côte de Villers-le-Bouillet (km 86,5), where Kaisen made it first in front of Bramati and Poilvet. The leading group then started the second climb up the Mur de Huy (km 95) with a 2’25’’ advantage on the peloton led by the Cofidis team. At the top, Peeters had the lead ahead of his escapee companions. The pack, still led by the Cofidis riders started pushing harder and saw their deficit drop down to 1’23’’. But the leading men insisted and the gap again stabilised. However, moving closer to the Côte de Pailhe (km 132,5), the pack eased up the pace again and the peloton moved closer at 1’15’’. In the climb, the gap dropped down even more. At the top Voigt led ahead of Van de Wouwer and Peeters with the peloton only 1’07’’ adrift.
Going downhill, the pace eased up with quite a few attacks in the leading group. Van de Wouwer, Kaisen, Bramati and Poilvet were one after the other, dropped. In the lead, Voigt, alongside Peeters, carried on their efforts and kept a 1’22’’ advantage on their former breakaway companions caught by Calzati while the pack remained 1’55’’ behind. Finally, the chasing riders were caught back by the peloton. At the top of the Côte de Coutisse (km 156), Voigt enjoyed the lead in front of Peeters with the pack moving closer at 1’25’’. Voigt then decided to harden the race and slowly broke away making it on his own at the top of the Côte de Bellaire (km 160,5). Peeters was eventually caught at kilometre 161. Voigt therefore started his solo effort at the bottom of the Côte de Bohisseau, 1’40’’ ahead of the bunched pack. In the climb, Vaugrenard (Fdj) managed to counter attack but was caught back by the peloton. At the top, Voigt could count on a 1’37’’ lead.
 In the downhill portion, the gap started dropping dramatically under the influence of the Liquigas-Bianchi and Iles Balears team. Voigt managed to keep a 1’ advantage at the top of the Côte de Ahin. But, 4 kilometres before the finish, the German was finally caught. His long adventure ended despite efforts in the final part of the race. The main pack eventually made it bunched at the bottom of the decisive Mur de Huy. Rapidly all the main favourites moved up to the leading positions. With 150 metres to go, Kirchen, tried to make a winning move but was immediately caught by Di Luca and Rebellin, title-holder. In the last metres, Di Luca managed to take off beating Kirchen and Rebellin. The Liquigas-Bianchi leader earned himself a second victory just a few days after winning the Amstel Gold Race. |
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