After yesterday’s way cracked stage of the Benelux Tour, the field was quite happy to let things come down to a nice, simple group sprint, taken once again by Max van Heeswijk of Discovery Channel-Berry Floor. Following a lead out by teammate Roger Hammond, van Heeswijk lept onto the wheel of Tom Steels and easily came around the geriatric Belgian for the win. Meanwhile, in the Vuelta a Burgos, 2003 World Champion Igor Astarloa took a tough stage to San Juan del Monte, showing that, y’know, maybe he should be back on a ProTour squad next season. The luckless Spaniard and 2003 Fleche-Wallone winner missed his beloved Ardennes Classics last spring while Cofidis was suspended from competition during a doping investigation, and later switched to Lampre, but never recovered from the chaos to post any meaningful results.
If you were watching OLN yesterday afternoon, you may have caught a World Cup four-cross competition. Though not listed as one of OLN’s “action sports,” 4X is apparently similar enough to motorcycle racing to qualify for the “redneck” clause of the “Only Lance” rule. Though I’m really not so psyched about it, it should give those of you out there desperate for a little two-wheeled non-motorized action on something resemebling basic cable a little release. OLN will also be covering the upcoming Gravity Games this summer. Check local listing for showtimes.