Joost wins

Today Joost Posthuma won a major stage race, the Three Days of De Panne. He did this by placing high in the first three stages and acing this afternoon's time trial. The race is ideal for him since many of Europe's top riders are focussing on Sunday's Ronde van Vlaanderen, a one-day race that is one of Europe's most hotly-contested. Asked about prospects for that race, Joost told an interviewer that Rabobank's Juan Antonio Flecha will be the protected rider. "Flecha is our absolute leader for Sunday," he said, "But if I am in the right place at the right time, I might try for the win. Why not? I exclude nothing."

I post more on this from Joost's web page when he puts something up.

Here are final results from the Belgian site, sporza.

1. Joost Posthuma (Ned)	in 14u15'05"
2. Manuel Quinziato (Ita)	op 2"
3. Enrico Gasparotto (Ita)	8"
4. Niki Terpstra (Ned)	10"
5. Simon Spilak (Svn)	40"
6. Rick Flens (Ned)	46"
7. Alessandro Ballan (Ita)	53"
8. Magnus Bäckstedt (Zwe)	58"
9. George Hincapie (VS)	59"
10. Luca Paolini (Ita)	1'04"
18. Leif Hoste	1'38"
19. Kurt Hovelynck	1'41"