From: cyclingnews.
The Rabobank team was the big loser in today's Dutch championship in Rotterdam. Starting as favourites with 17 men, the team was outplayed by Leon van Bon (Davitamon-Lotto), who made a superb attack in the final kilometre as Rabobank tried and failed to lead out Steven de Jongh. Such was his the power of his attack, Van Bon looked back at 500m to go and already knew that he had won. De Jongh took second place ahead of Max van Heeswijk (Discovery Channel).
Up until then, Rabobank had ridden a good race, but was naturally marked as the strongest team. The orange boys had three riders in the main break: defending champion Erik Dekker, Karsten Kroon, and Maarten Den Bakker were there, along with Van Bon (Davitamon-Lotto), Van Hummel (Eurogifts), Van Schalen (AXA), Pronk (Mrbookmaker), De Haan (Trientalis APAC), and Van Katwijk (Shimano). That forced the other teams to control the peloton, with Quick.Step and Skil Moser doing the chasing.
The gap hovered at around a minute with 60 km to go, but the cooperation in front wasn't good as everyone was looking at the Rabobank riders to work. Van Bon was so frustrated he started backpedalling, but then, as the break disintegrated, he attacked alone. He was caught by Kroon and Van Hummel, with Tankink coming across from the peloton. But the quartet wasn't allowed much room and with 40 km to go, the bunch came back in dribs and drabs.
The attacks continued until Boogerd (Rabobank) and Moerenhout (Davitamon-Lotto) jumped clear from a bigger break with some 30 km to go. With two laps to go, they had a slender lead over the peloton, again putting Rabobank and Davitamon in a strong position and forcing the other teams to chase. The pair worked perfectly, but Shimano-Memory Corp had five men on the front of the bunch and had the two leaders in their sights at 20 seconds with one lap to go.
The bunch got closer and closer on the final lap, but Boogerd and Moerenhout didn't give up, getting some extra help from Maint Berkenbosch (Trientalis APAC). Eventually it came together, and with 5 km to go, Rabobank had to switch tactics to lead out Steven de Jongh. But this is where the wheels fell off the orange bus, as although De Jongh was well placed near the front, the Rabobank train was way too short. After Thomas Dekker did a big turn with 2 km to go, Van Bon took a flyer at 1 km, and no-one reacted. It was a brilliant move from the man who had been in breaks for most of the day, and Van Bon entered the finishing straight with a 50 metre lead that was more than enough to see him cross the line for another well deserved Dutch title. De Jongh's second place can only be described as a disappointment for the team, which did everything right up until about 3 km to go.
The reaction of van Bon afterwards was typical. The commentator said that even with very few team mates you can still beat THE team: rabobank. Van Bon answered 'that's easy......each year they make it easy' (implying that there teamtactics didn't work and always mess up)
Boogerd was also [censored]........'Rabobank had with 17 riders by far the most riders of a team and de Jong should have won'.
Boogerd did show btw very good form by attacking but they were caught in the last lap. Boogerd was also critical over the course which is deadflat😠 Boogerd said: 'after a couple years on this course I think it should be again held on a harder course in Limburg' (where amstel is ridden). I agree too.....this is just boooooooooooooring😎
Haha it will be a nice evaluation @ the rabobank headquarters!
