Philippe Gilbert wins Cycling Tour of Flanders after solo breakaway
Weary from three months of winning, Roger Federer hit one last shot Sunday, whacking a celebratory forehand into the stands to punctuate his victory over Rafael Nadal in the Miami Open final.
Now comes a well-deserved twomonth break.
“I’m not 24 anymore,” Federer said. “I need a rest. My body needs healing.”
He’s not complaining. At 35, Federer is playing some of the best tennis of his career - so good he’s even dominating his longtime nemesis. Federer beat Nadal for the third time this year, 6-3, 6-4, to become the oldest men’s champion in the 33-year history of the tournament.
Federer also defeated Nadal in the Australian Open final in January, and two weeks ago en route to the Indian Wells title. He’s the first three-time champion this year on the men’s tour - and ready for a break.
The father of four has an exhibition scheduled next week, but plans to skip the bulk of the clay court season before returning for the French Open in late May.
“I want to stay healthy,” Federer said. “When I’m healthy and feeling good, I can produce tennis like this. If I’m not feeling this good, there’s no chance I’ll be in finals competing with Rafa.”
Federer said he arrived at Key Biscayne with low expectations, given his heavy workload of late, and felt tired in the final. Humid weather didn’t help. He won anyway. “On the big points I was just maybe a little bit better,” Federer said. “It was more of a fight mode I was in today trying to stay afloat. It has been a draining week.”
The victory turned back the clock, as Federer has done so often of late. He also won Key Biscayne in 2005 and 2006. Veteran Belgian rider Philippe Gilbert clinched his first win at the Tour of Flanders with a brilliant solo breakaway as the pre-race favourites failed to impress on Sunday.
The 34-year-old Gilbert made the decisive break some 55 kilometres (34 miles) from the finish and held off chasing riders. Peter Sagan, last year’s winner and among the favorites again, crashed 20 kilometres (12.4 miles) out as he went in pursuit of Gilbert.
Gilbert, a winner of nine stages on the Tour de France, Spanish Vuelta and Italian Giro, completed the 260-kilometre (161-mile) trek in just over 6 hours, 23 minutes.
“We won as a team today and everyone deserves to be on the podium,” Gilbert said. “Many people thought I was crazy to attack 55 kilometres out, myself included.”
As he crossed the line in Oudenaarde, the ecstatic Gilbert thumped his chest repeatedly and then climbed off his bike before raising it aloft to celebrate one of his best career wins.
“The motivation was there, as I knew I still had it in me. When I approached the final kilometre, I looked behind and saw the chasers
Nadal fell to 0-5 in Key Biscayne finals, including in 2005 against Federer. He was also runner-up in 2008, 2011 and 2014.
“It’s disappointing for me that I am trying during all my career,” Nadal told the crowd with a smile during the trophy ceremony. “Every three years I am in this position, but always with the smaller trophy.” were still a long way back and thought of a nice way of celebrating,” Gilbert said. “That’s why I raised my bike over my head, because it was an important part of my victory.”
Belgian rider Greg Van Avermaet finished second after holding off Dutchman Niki Terpstra in a sprint to the line.
Van Avermaet, the Olympic road champion, entered the race in great form. He recently won the Gent-Wevelgem and E3 Harelbeke classics, adding to his victory last month in Het Nieuwsblad. But he and Terpstra were nearly 30 seconds behind Gilbert.
The race, also known as De Ronde, is part of five high-profile classics along with Milan-San Remo, Paris-Roubaix, Liege-Bastogne-Liege and the Giro di Lombardia. It features 18 short but punishing climbs and five cobblestone sections.
Paris-Roubaix, known as the “Hell of the North” for its challenging cobbles, is next Sunday and sees four-time winner Tom Boonen competing in the final race of his career before retiring.
The 36-year-old Boonen wanted to sign off from the Tour of Flan-
Said Federer to his rival: “I truly believe you are going to still win this tournament. You’re too good not to.”
Both players agreed the match was closer than the score and decided by a handful of points.
“I got a few important ones,” Federer said. “I played the right way, like I have so often done this year, just very committed, and it paid off ders with a fourth win in front of his adoring home fans, but was happy to help his Quick-Step Floors teammate Gilbert claim the win, five years after Gilbert last competed in the race.