By Ben Atkins in Meerbeke
With his victory in today's Ronde Van Vlaanderen, Belgian champion Stijn Devolder (Quick Step) took fifty points towards the contentious season-long competition. However, because of the withdrawal of all events run by Amaury Sports Organisation (ASO), RCS Sport and Unipublic from the competition, this is only the second event in the series after January's Tour Down Under.
Current ProTour leader André Greipel (High Road) has 62 points, courtesy of his victory in Australia's Tour Down Under, and started the race this morning on a special white and blue Giant frame to match his jersey. Devolder did not ride the Tour Down Under and so these are his first points and Greipel holds on to first place in the classification, albeit with a considerably reduced lead.
The next event in the series will be Gent-Wevelgem this coming Wednesday, April 9th.
