Française des Jeux's Bernhard Eisel was bitterly disappointed to finish second in Tuesday's first stage of the Driedaagse van De Panne, saying, "I rode too foolishly!" This is how he describes it on www.eisel.com: "After 100 kilometres I found myself in a large group, out of which I attacked about 40 km before the finish. Steegmans came with me and later Leif Hoste came, too. As a trio we could hold our advantage, which never went under a minute." And in the finale, "I concentrated only on Steegmans, supposedly the only serious competition for me. And then I opened the sprint too early, and totally blew my chances. I know that I am strong. With this form there is no way I should have lost the race. Tactically, that was not my best race."
