Joost on top!

Yesterday Joost won a Dutch race, Profronde of Almelo. This is a criterim, meaning it's a circuit race in an urban area, in this case Almelo in the eastern part of the Netherlands where he was born and raised. The event --part of a festival that continues into the evening with live music -- was blessed with an unusually warm and sunny day. Although most of the racers were Dutch, an top-ranked Australian, Robbie McEwen, participated, having dropped out of the Tour of Spain. And so did the Luxembourger, Frank Schleck, winner this year of the prestigious Amstel Gold Race and the famous L'Alpe-d'Huez stage of the Tour de France. Joost went off the front with Bram Tankink to beat out Robbie, Frank, and everyone else, and Joost edged Tankink in the final sprint. Robbie came in third. (Like Joost, Tankink is a local in those parts.)

The race wrapup says one prize for winning was that Joost got to kiss Celina Kalfane, the "rondemiss," who is Dutch of Indian origin. Click image to enlarge. Source.