Today was Allan Davis’ first day in the team Quick Step strip. The 28 year-old Aussie has been hunting for a contract on a Pro Tour team since Discovery Channel pulled out of the sport. Complicating matters was the fact that the rider was mixed in with the Operation Puerto scandal by association.
It seems like Davis’ start is a good omen to his new team since Gert Steegmans took the win today in the Memorial Rik Van Steenbergen Aartselaar in Belgium. Steegmans beat Dutchman Stefan Van Dijk of Mitsubishi-Jartazi and Belgian Champion Jurgen Roelandts from Silence-Lotto in the final sprint. With this victory Steegmans follows his fellow countryman Greg Van Avermaet, winner of the 2007 edition of this race, in to racing’s golden circle.
“I’ve got to thank all the team.” Steegmans said after the race. “Today they were working for me from the beginning of the race. In the final phase De Jongh and Davis were phenomenal, launching me in the best possible way, allowing me to get up on Roelandts’ tire and then pass him at the finish line.”