Is it tornado season?

Tommeke is looking good.  Fabian says that Tom is the favorite for Ronde and Tom says that Fabian is the one to beat.  Taking a look at the top 15 from Sunday's Gent - Wevelgem

1	Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quickstep	5:32:44
2	Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Cannondale
3	Matti Breschel (Den) Rabobank Cycling Team
4	Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Katusha Team
5	Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Procycling
6	Daniele Bennati (Ita) Radioshack-Nissan
7	Marco Marcato (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
8	Steve Chainel (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat
9	Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
10	Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Movistar Team
11	Johan Vansummeren (Bel) Garmin-Cervelo
12	Matthew Harley Goss (Aus) GreenEdge Cycling Team
13	Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Radioshack-Nissan
14	Christian Knees (Ger) Sky Procycling	0:00:03
15	Jon Izaguirre Insausti (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi	0:00:04

There are some pretty stand out names in this list.  Three time World Champ Freire has gone back in time and found his legs.  Sagan is a hoss, he an Cancellara made what now looks like a stupid move, if it had gone the other way they would have looked brilliant.  But for Sagan to challenge for the win is true testament to the strength of this rider.  This guy is in his 20's.  Sick.  Breschel, finally on a team that will use him the way he should be used, doesn't hurt that he is Dutch on a Dutch team, now does it?  Earth calling Garmin.  Vansummeren is the real deal when it comes to the Classics.  Yes, he may be 8' tall and look like the missing link (wait that's Ten Dam) he is tall, and can ride a bike in the roughest toughest conditions.  Who's the man now?  That brings me to one of my favorites, Pipo.  Pozzato has struggled the last few years with team issues injury and too many tattoos.  Looked like he was going to repeat the cycle this year with his broken collarbone just last month.  Dude went under the knife is back on the bike and is looking to come into form, -with a hand full of top tens in his pocket. 

Gent was a great race, would have liked to see it whittled down to a smaller group, or have the break stick it.  Anyway what a race.  People are saying how strong Tom is right now, I do not disagree, but is he?  Tom is older, and I think that he is riding so much smarter plus he is such a strong rider to begin.  This is a deadly combo.  Brains and brawn.  Let's not discount the fact that he has a team around him that is so dangerous, anyone of them could go up the road and beat you.  Tom was not the strongest rider at Gent, I think it was Sagan, but he rode a very smart race, got lucky in the sprint and came out with a three time win.  Sound the sirens there is a tornado coming.

Can't wait for the weekend and Ronde van Vlaanderen.  Watching Three Days of De Panne Stage 1 right now with 40km to go.  These guys are taking turns punching each other in the face up the climbs.  Oh, how I love the Classics.